This brightening serum is formulated around Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate and Niacinamide to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate 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 ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-2 Cocoate
Emulsifying
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantPunica Granatum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Morus Alba Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Kojic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Polysorbate 60, Alpha-Arbutin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tranexamic Acid, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dicaprylyl Ether, Dimethicone, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Carbomer, Sorbic Acid, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Polyester-4
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysilicone-11
Citric Acid
Buffering
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sorbitol
Humectant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Alteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Annona Muricata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientPrunus Domestica Fruit Extract
MoisturisingPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentTamarindus Indica Extract
SmoothingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Propanediol, Coconut Alkanes, Polyester-4, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ascorbic Acid, Glutathione, Gold, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Citric Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sorbitol, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Annona Muricata Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Tamarindus Indica Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
This ingredient shows up on a lot of "pore-clogging" lists but there's no real evidence behind that. It doesn't even have a comedogenic rating from an actual study; the numbers you'll find online come from blogs citing other blogs.
Ratings for other ingredients mostly come from a 1980s rabbit ear test. This test doesn't translate well to human skin or to real products because the ingredient sits at a much lower percentage.
Some people still find it breaks them out. So if that's you, definitely trust your skin. Just know this one's based on experience and not evidence.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
