This brightening night moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening overnight mask is formulated around Niacinamide and Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPseudozyma Epicola/Nitrosomonas Europaea/Oil Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Enterococcus Faecium/Saururus Chinensis Extract Ferment Filtrate
EmollientAspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Oleate, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Pseudozyma Epicola/Nitrosomonas Europaea/Oil Ferment Filtrate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Enterococcus Faecium/Saururus Chinensis Extract Ferment Filtrate, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Junos Peel Oil
Astringent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Seed Oil
Emollient
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
PEG-800
HumectantAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Junos Fruit Oil
Masking
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-22
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-45
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-8
Humectant
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycereth-26, Phenyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citrus Junos Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Citrus Junos Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, PEG-800, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Ceramide NP, Linoleic Acid, Retinol, Citrus Junos Fruit Oil, Bioflavonoids, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Sh-Polypeptide-45, Sh-Polypeptide-8, Sh-Polypeptide-9
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
