This brightening serum is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract and Niacinamide to fade the look of dark spots and calm redness.
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Tranexamic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract 29.2%
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantNelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientSqualane
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose
AbsorbentGlucose
HumectantFructose
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Centella Asiatica Extract 29.2%, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Glutathione, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Squalane, Beta-Glucan, Dipropylene Glycol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cholesterol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose, Glucose, Fructose, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantTranexamic Acid
AstringentEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCetearyl Olivate
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientSqualane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tranexamic Acid, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetearyl Olivate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Lecithin, Squalane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Polysorbate 60, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sorbitan Isostearate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinSqualane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneWater. 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