Beauty of Joseon Bamboo Darkspot Serum Versus Wardah Crystal Secret 3% Tranexamic Complex + Alpha Arbutin Dark Spot Corrector Serum
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 Niacinamide and Alpha-Arbutin 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 ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin Protecting
Tromethamine
BufferingDiphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Bambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, 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 ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethyl Methacrylate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-23
Bleaching
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Pentylene Glycol, Trehalose, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Chlorphenesin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-23, Alpha-Arbutin, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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
Glycerin (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 GlycolWater. 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
