This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Centella Asiatica Extract to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract 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 ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingChaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
AntioxidantPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentNelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract
PerfumingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin ConditioningAsarum Sieboldii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningQuercus Mongolica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPersicaria Hydropiper Extract
Skin ConditioningLarix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantMagnolia Obovata Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningRheum Palmatum Root Extract
AstringentCorydalis Turtschaninovii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Chinensis Root Extract
AntioxidantSodium Phosphate
BufferingLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAcetyl Methionine
Skin ConditioningTheanine
EmollientProline
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLimonene
PerfumingWater, Propylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polysorbate 60, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Disodium EDTA, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract, Polysorbate 80, Disodium Phosphate, Sorbitan Oleate, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Asarum Sieboldii Root Extract, Quercus Mongolica Leaf Extract, Persicaria Hydropiper Extract, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Magnolia Obovata Bark Extract, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Corydalis Turtschaninovii Root Extract, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Sodium Phosphate, Lysine Hcl, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Methionine, Theanine, Proline, Lecithin, Acetyl Glutamine, Bacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Caprylyl Glycol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningDiglucosyl Gallic Acid
Citric Acid
BufferingLysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPullulan
Silica
AbrasiveSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantErythritol
HumectantCarrageenan
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
HumectantTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentCananga Odorata Flower Water
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTin Oxide
AbrasiveBenzoic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Citric Acid, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Pullulan, Silica, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Erythritol, Carrageenan, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Isopentyldiol, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Water, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tin Oxide, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77891, Mica
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycerinSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateWater. 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