What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Sodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Alpha-Arbutin, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Xylitol, Tromethamine, Tocopherol, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol
Reviews
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
