This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Alpha-Arbutin to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening serum is formulated around Alpha-Arbutin and Sodium Hyaluronate to fade the look of dark spots and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Prunus Persica Fruit Water 70%
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide 5%
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventWater
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Flower Extract
MoisturisingCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Yeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Phytate
Cellulose
Absorbent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientCyanocobalamin
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Prunus Persica Fruit Water 70%, Glycerin, Niacinamide 5%, Butylene Glycol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Alpha-Arbutin, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Yeast Ferment Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Betaine Salicylate, Sodium Phytate, Cellulose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Polyglutamic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sucrose Palmitate, Cyanocobalamin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ceramide NP, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Arbutin is a brightening active used to fade dark spots, melasma, and post-acne marks. Structurally, it is a hydroquinone with a sugar molecule attached (but is much gentler than raw hydroquinone).
It has a pretty elegant way of working; it slots into tyrosinase, or the key enzyme that your skin uses to make melanin), and competitively blocks it so your skin produces less pigment over time.
There are two forms of arbutin and alpha is the better one to reach for: it works at lower amounts, absorbs into skin more easily, and has a strong safety record.
The science backs this up too: lab and animal studies confirm it lowers melanin by blocking tyosinase and the more you use (up to a point), the more it works.
Human studies look good too.
A 2024 trial found a cream with 5% alpha-arbutin and 2% kojic acid worked about as well as a prescription melasma cream but with fewer side effects. Another study showed 2% alpha-arbutin paired with 10% Trihydroxybenzoic Acid Glucoside and sunscreen faded dark spots and melasma without causing irritation.
Concentration-wise, most serums land in the 1-2% range.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety concluded that alpha-arbutin is safe in face creams up to 2% and body lotions up to 0.5%.
Overall, this is a well-studied and low-irritation brightener that's a great pick for anyone dealing with uneven skin tone. It also pairs well with vitamin C, niacinamide, and sunscreen.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
