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 Niacinamide and Ascorbyl Glucoside 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
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentNelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientDisodium EDTA
ChelatingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract
Perfuming
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Asarum 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
Astringent
Corydalis Turtschaninovii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Chinensis Root Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingLysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Acetyl Methionine
Skin Conditioning
Theanine
EmollientProline
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, 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 ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingUndecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTridecane
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Trisodium EDTA
ChelatingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Carnitine
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlucose
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Serine, Triethylhexanoin, Undecane, Butylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sclerotium Gum, Tridecane, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Behenyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Trisodium EDTA, Arachidyl Glucoside, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Arginine, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Ceramide NP, Carnitine, Cholesterol, Salicylic Acid, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Glucose, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
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
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is the compound that gives citrus peel its smell.
In skincare, it shows up as a standalone fragrance ingredient or as a natural compound of citrus and other essential oils.
You'll typically see this ingredient used in very small amounts; anything above 0.001% in a leave-on product or 0.01% in a rinse-off has to be named on the label in the EU. The citrus oils that carry it sit around 0.5-1% in a finished formula.
Fresh limonene is a weak allergen; the real issue is that it slowly reacts with air and then breaks down from oxidation to create hydroperoxides (which are strong sensitizers). This is why suppliers are required to keep the peroxide value below 20 mmol.
Positive reactions in people being investigated for eczema vary:
It's worth skipping if you have a known fragrance allergy or a compromised barrier, but the risk is low for most people.
Older or long-opened products are also more likely to bother you than fresh ones due to oxidation.
Learn more about LimoneneSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
