This brightening serum is formulated around Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract and Squalane to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Ectoin to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
ChelatingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Squalane, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Bisabolol, Glyceryl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Potassium Sorbate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicSodium Phytate
ChelatingCitric Acid
Buffering
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Trehalose
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Brassica Alba Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Oligopeptide-195
Oligopeptide-196
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-197
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-198
Oligopeptide-199
Oligopeptide-6
Skin Conditioning
Polylysine
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Water, Isopropyl Myristate, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Tocopherol, Ectoin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycerin, Panthenol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Biotin, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Trehalose, Linoleic Acid, Adenosine, Cyclodextrin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Arginine, Brassica Alba Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Oligopeptide-195, Oligopeptide-196, Oligopeptide-197, Oligopeptide-198, Oligopeptide-199, Oligopeptide-6, Polylysine, Linolenic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSodium Phytate is the sodium salt of Phytic acid, a compound that plants store phosphorus in. It's the plant-derived alternative to ingredients like Disodium EDTA.
In skincare, this ingredient is a chelator that grabs onto trace metal ions like iron and copper that sneak into formulas through water/raw materials.
Those metals speed up oxidation so binding them keeps oils, fragrance, and actives from going off, stops color changes, and helps the preservative system work harder.
Survey data shows usage levels range from 0.0099%-0.5% in leave-on products, 0.025%-0.3% in rinse-off, and up to 0.05% in eye-area products. Suppliers typically recommend a range between 0.05-0.5%.
Learn more about Sodium PhytateWater. 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
