This smoothing serum is formulated around Mandelic Acid and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening serum is formulated around Ferulic Acid 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 ConditioningMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingGarcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Morinda Citrifolia Extract
AstringentCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer
EmollientLecithin
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Galactoarabinan
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Mandelic Acid, Lactic Acid, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Polysorbate 20, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate, Ergothioneine, Salicylic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Glycine Soja Extract, Glycerin, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Galactoarabinan, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Arctium Lappa Seed Oil
Emollient
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Pinus Strobus Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Disodium S-Phytyl Diglycoloylcysteine
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Steareth-20
CleansingSodium Phytate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Squalane, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Triethyl Citrate, Pinus Strobus Bark Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Disodium S-Phytyl Diglycoloylcysteine, Tocopherol, Ferulic Acid, Maltodextrin, Stearyl Alcohol, Steareth-20, Sodium Phytate, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinWater. 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
