What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Mentha Haplocalix Extract
MaskingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Water
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Betaine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Arginine, Panthenol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Allantoin, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alpha-Arbutin, Menthyl Lactate, Mentha Haplocalix Extract, Tocopherol, Lactobionic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Betaine Salicylate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycolic Acid, Water
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Arbutin is a brightening active used to fade dark spots, melasma, and post-acne marks. Structurally, it is a hydroquinone with a sugar molecule attached (but is much gentler than raw hydroquinone).
It has a pretty elegant way of working; it slots into tyrosinase, or the key enzyme that your skin uses to make melanin), and competitively blocks it so your skin produces less pigment over time.
There are two forms of arbutin and alpha is the better one to reach for: it works at lower amounts, absorbs into skin more easily, and has a strong safety record.
The science backs this up too: lab and animal studies confirm it lowers melanin by blocking tyosinase and the more you use (up to a point), the more it works.
Human studies look good too.
A 2024 trial found a cream with 5% alpha-arbutin and 2% kojic acid worked about as well as a prescription melasma cream but with fewer side effects. Another study showed 2% alpha-arbutin paired with 10% Trihydroxybenzoic Acid Glucoside and sunscreen faded dark spots and melasma without causing irritation.
Concentration-wise, most serums land in the 1-2% range.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety concluded that alpha-arbutin is safe in face creams up to 2% and body lotions up to 0.5%.
Overall, this is a well-studied and low-irritation brightener that's a great pick for anyone dealing with uneven skin tone. It also pairs well with vitamin C, niacinamide, and sunscreen.
Learn more about Alpha-Arbutin
