This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and balance excess oil.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasiveHoney
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantOryza Sativa Hull Powder
AbrasiveIsononyl Isononanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran
AbrasiveOryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentHoney Extract
HumectantBentonite
AbsorbentPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCellulose
AbsorbentZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate-13
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSodium Phytate
ChelatingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingWater, Kaolin, Honey, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Hull Powder, Isononyl Isononanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Bran, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Honey Extract, Bentonite, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Cellulose, Zea Mays Starch, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyacrylate-13, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sodium Phytate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Menthyl Lactate
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventTripropylene Glycol
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantZea Mays Kernel Extract
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBackhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract
AstringentGlutathione
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantHedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningFructan
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
HumectantGlucose
HumectantPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialSqualane
EmollientSuccinic Acid
BufferingArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientWater, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Tripropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tranexamic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Glutathione, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Asiaticoside, Hedera Helix Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Fructan, Zinc PCA, Glucose, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Allantoin, Hexylresorcinol, Squalane, Succinic Acid, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract
Reviews
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
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePropanediol 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 PropanediolWater. 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