Clarins Bright Plus Advanced Brightening Dark Spot Serum Versus Clarins Bright Plus Dark Spot Targeting Emulsion
Updated on March 11, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 21 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin C
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Clarins Bright Plus Advanced Brightening Dark Spot Serum 27 ingredients
Clarins Bright Plus Dark Spot Targeting Emulsion 30 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Clarins Bright Plus Advanced Brightening Dark Spot Serum 27 ingredients
Clarins Bright Plus Dark Spot Targeting Emulsion 30 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Boron Nitride
AbsorbentPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cellulose
AbsorbentTromethamine
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicParfum
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingCitric Acid
Buffering
Polianthes Tuberosa Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningMalpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentMalpighia Emarginata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract
HumectantEngelhardtia Chrysolepis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Boron Nitride, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cellulose, Tromethamine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Biotin, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Polianthes Tuberosa Polysaccharide, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Xylitol, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Malpighia Emarginata Seed Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract, Engelhardtia Chrysolepis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Boron Nitride
AbsorbentPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicParfum
Masking
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingCitric Acid
Buffering
Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentXylitol
HumectantMalpighia Emarginata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Sorbitan Stearate, Boron Nitride, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sucrose Cocoate, Biotin, Parfum, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Xylitol, Malpighia Emarginata Seed Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinAscorbyl Glucoside is a stable form of Vitamin C. It is created by combining glucose from starch.
When applied to skin, Ascorbyl Glucoside turns into Ascorbic Acid.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may damage skin cells.
It can help to reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, and brighten skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Ascorbyl GlucosideBoron Nitride is compound consisting of boron and nitrogen. It is used to absorb oil and modify adherence/ slip in products.
This means it is often used in makeup products to help them last longer.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateXanthan 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 GumEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Biotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.
Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.
More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.
Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.
Learn more about BiotinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWe don't have a description for Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract yet.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidMalpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract contains antioxidants and polysaccharides. Antioxidants protect your skin from free-radical damage.
Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract is also a great source of Vitamin C.
Xylitol is a humectant and prebiotic. It can help with dry skin.
In studies, xylitol has been shown to improve dry skin. It decreased transepidermal water loss, or when water passes through the skin and evaporates. Xylitol also showed to help improve the biomechanical properties of the skin barrier.
The prebiotic property of xylitol may also help reinforce our skin's natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome prevents infection by bad bacteria and helps with hydration.
As a humectant, Xylitol helps draw moisture from both the air and from deeper skin layers. This helps keep skin hydrated.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and commonly used as a sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring in plants such as strawberries and pumpkin.
Learn more about XylitolWe don't have a description for Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract yet.
The acerola seed is packed with antioxidants such as Vitamin C.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWe don't have a description for Pancratium Maritimum Extract yet.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateWe don't have a description for Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract yet.
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