This brightening treatment is formulated around Niacinamide and Hexylresorcinol to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening serum is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Tranexamic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientTriolein
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
C12-16 Alcohols
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract
Skin ConditioningC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientAcrylates Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningC12-18 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientRaspberry Ketone
Masking
Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingVanilla Planifolia Fruit
MaskingIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCistus Ladaniferus Resin
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract
MaskingStyrax Benzoin Resin Extract
Masking
Viola Odorata Leaf Extract
MaskingJuniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Octyldecanol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecyl Oleate
Emollient
Squalene
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
ChelatingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Benzyl Glycol
SolventLaureth-21
CleansingPullulan
Silica
Abrasive
Alumina
Abrasive
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Triolein, Niacinamide, C12-16 Alcohols, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Ectoin, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Jojoba Esters, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hexylresorcinol, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Phytosterols, Sodium Levulinate, C12-18 Acid Triglyceride, Raspberry Ketone, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Cistus Ladaniferus Resin, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract, Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Octyldecanol, Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Squalene, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzyl Glycol, Laureth-21, Pullulan, Silica, Alumina, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Benzoate, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
4-Ethylresorcinol
AntimicrobialHexapeptide-2
Bleaching
Rice Amino Acids
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-4
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingLimonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Tranexamic Acid, 4-Ethylresorcinol, Hexapeptide-2, Rice Amino Acids, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Zinc Gluconate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Hydroxide, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyquaternium-4, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Parfum
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 LimoneneLinalool is a small, naturally occurring scent molecule found in plants like lavender, coriander, bergamot, and more.
It is one of the two most-used fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and added purely for smell. Since it's not used for a skin benefit, there's no "effective dose". Concentration depends on the fragrance load of the product.
The EU requires it to be named on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
Fresh linalool is a weak sensitizer but air exposure turns some of it into hydroperoxides, which are strong sensitizers. Those oxidation products are the actual allergy concern.
Patch-test clinics see positive reactions to linalool hydroperoxides in about 4% to 12% of dermatitis patients depending on country and test concentration.
Resassuringly, one analytical study found hydroperoxide levels in real fragranced products to be orders of magnitude below what induced sensitization in animal studies with no evidence of oxidation building up during normal storage.
The practical takeaway is that linalool is fine for most people but worth avoiding if you have a confirmed fragrance contact allergy or a badly compromised barrier.
Products stored a long time after opening are also the high-risk scenario since that is when oxidation happens.
The scent of linalool is described as floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
