Versus

AXIS - Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum Versus Dermalogica Powerbright Dark Spot Serum

Serum
Facial Treatment
Korean Brand South Korea
American Brand United States

Updated on June 07, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free . They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid and niacinamide

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Powerbright Dark Spot Serum

Water

Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexyl Isononanoate

Emollient

Triolein

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Niacinamide

Smoothing
Niacinamide IconGood for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin Icon

C12-16 Alcohols

Emollient

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract

Skin Conditioning

C18-36 Acid Triglyceride

Emollient

Acrylates Copolymer

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Ectoin

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract

Skin Protecting

Jojoba Esters

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Hydroxyacetophenone

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Hexylresorcinol

Antimicrobial
Good for Dark Spots Icon

Phytosteryl Macadamiate

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Withania Somnifera Root Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation Icon

Phytosterols

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Sodium Levulinate

Skin Conditioning

C12-18 Acid Triglyceride

Emollient

Raspberry Ketone

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract

Skin Protecting

Vanilla Planifolia Fruit

Masking

Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract

Perfuming
Fragrance Icon

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Emollient
0 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil

Skin Conditioning
3 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Masking
Oil Icon

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Citrus Medica Peel Oil

Oil Icon

Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Ricinus Communis Seed Oil

Masking
0-1 / 0 Fragrance IconOil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial

Cistus Ladaniferus Resin

Masking

Zingiber Officinale Root Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract

Masking

Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Viola Odorata Leaf Extract

Masking

Juniperus Virginiana Oil

Masking
Oil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Titanium Dioxide

Cosmetic Colorant
0 / 0 Mineral UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Sclerotium Gum

Emulsion Stabilising

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Emulsifying
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Lecithin

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Palmitic Acid

Emollient
2 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Octyldecanol

Emollient

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Octyldodecyl Oleate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Squalene

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate

Emollient
0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Benzyl Glycol

Solvent

Laureth-21

Cleansing

Pullulan

Silica

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Alumina

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Sodium Dehydroacetate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Sodium Benzoate

Masking
Preservative Icon

Citral

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Limonene

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Linalool

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. 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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin
Smoothing

Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.

And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.

You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.

In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.

If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.

In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).

Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.

Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.

The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.

Learn more about Niacinamide
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

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 Glycol
Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse. 

It is a:

  • Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
  • Emollient, helping to soften skin
  • Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
  • Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives 

When to use

3,809 Routines
44% use in am
56% use in pm
93% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
10 Routines
70% use in am
30% use in pm
100% use every day

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

AXIS - Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum 25 ingredients

3.4 /5
from 63 ratings
Hydrating (16) Light (15) Absorbs Well (14)
AshN.'s avatar

AshN.

7 months ago
Review

This product does work, but it should be noted that it takes a good while to see results. I would say compared to the Anua working for me within 2 weeks I really didn't notice any results until the 4 week mark and that was from using it morning at night. I did purchase this product while it was on sale, but I don't think I liked it enough to repurchase this at regular price.

#great value
#light
#absorbs well
#light scent
featherstone's avatar

flora

8 months ago
Review

Cleared two unsightly scars I had on my face, granted they were from picking at my skin rather than acne scars, but definitely cleared them quick enough for me to feel happier about my appearance!

However I believe this was one of the products contributing to my fungal acne flare up :(

#broke me out
#light
#works well

Dermalogica Powerbright Dark Spot Serum 70 ingredients

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