This brightening serum is formulated around Phenylethyl Resorcinol and Bambusa Vulgaris Extract to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Azelaic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingTromethamine
BufferingDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Tromethamine, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Beta-Glucan, Silica, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantSucrose
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Azelaic Acid
BufferingXanthophylls
Skin ConditioningBacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingTropaeolum Majus Extract
AntimicrobialPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningMannitol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialLactic Acid
BufferingPotassium Lactate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Dibutyl Adipate, Pentylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Propanediol, Glycerin, Betaine, Sucrose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Azelaic Acid, Xanthophylls, Bacillus Ferment, Phosphatidylcholine, Beta-Sitosterol, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tropaeolum Majus Extract, Phytosphingosine, Mannitol, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cetrimonium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Potassium Lactate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum