This brightening serum is formulated around Tranexamic Acid and Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Salicylic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningGlycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Squalane
Emollient
Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningCystine
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Ergosterol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
ChelatingCarbomer/Papain Crosspolymer
Phytic Acid
Chelating
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAlgin
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Citrus Species Peel Extract
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Tranexamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lactic Acid, Ergothioneine, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Tocopherol, Sodium PCA, Fructooligosaccharides, Bioflavonoids, Glycoproteins, Glycine, Squalane, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Beta-Carotene, Cystine, Pentylene Glycol, Mannitol, Ergosterol, Xanthan Gum, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Carbomer/Papain Crosspolymer, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Acacia Senegal Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Algin, Disodium Phosphate, Limonene, Citrus Species Peel Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Polysilicone-11
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Poloxamer 338
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Polyacrylamide
Toluene Sulfonic Acid
SurfactantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingBHT
Antioxidant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Potassium Hydroxide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polysilicone-11, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Adenosine, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Poloxamer 338, Salicylic Acid, Polyacrylamide, Toluene Sulfonic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Laureth-7, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
