Dot & Key Skincare Strawberry Bright 10% Niacinamide Face Serum Versus Glenmark Pharma Episoft AC SPF 30
This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientFragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhragmites Communis Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingPCA
HumectantSerine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Arginine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPolymethyl Methacrylate
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingWater, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Isohexadecane, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitol, Dimethicone, Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Trehalose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phragmites Communis Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Allantoin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDiazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
ChelatingWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Benzophenone-3, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Panthenol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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