Garnier Bright Complete Anti Acne Serum Versus Dermalogica Age Bright Clearing Serum
Updated on February 14, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA, BHA and niacinamide
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens, fragrances and oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Garnier Bright Complete Anti Acne Serum 21 ingredients
Dermalogica Age Bright Clearing Serum 32 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Garnier Bright Complete Anti Acne Serum 21 ingredients
Dermalogica Age Bright Clearing Serum 32 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
SolventLinalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Phytic Acid
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., Niacinamide, Glycerin, Propanediol, Linalool, Geraniol, Sodium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Limonene, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Phytic Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantSalvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Phytic Acid
Terpineol
Masking
Thymol
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel
MaskingPolydextrose
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentAmylopectin
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingIsoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Salicylic Acid, Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Phytic Acid, Terpineol, Thymol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Limon Peel, Polydextrose, Glycerin, Dextrin, Amylopectin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Isoamyl Laurate, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterNiacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamideGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolSodium 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 HydroxideSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.
Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.
In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimonenePhytic Acid is a gentle AHA and antioxidant. AHAs are chemical exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells. Phytic Acid has a slight and mild exfoliating effect.
The chemical makeup makes it classified as an AHA, much like lactic acid.
In some cases, it is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water, helping to stabilize the ingredients in a product.
An interesting fact about phytic acid is that it is considered an antinutrient. People do not have the enzyme needed to properly breakdown and digest phytic acid. When ingested, phytic acid binds to minerals and prevents them from being absorbed.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Phytic AcidIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Garnier Bright Complete Anti Acne Serum 21 ingredients
Dermalogica Age Bright Clearing Serum 32 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Garnier Bright Complete Anti Acne Serum 21 ingredients
Caused purge effect
I got small pimples, I used it for a month to give it a real try and it never got better, I didn't have too many pimples but I got both cheeks which then left marks on my skin that Never had acne scars until now nothing recommended I hate it
2.5
Me hizo purga, quería aliviar el brote que tenía en ese momento y empeoró.
Dermalogica Age Bright Clearing Serum 32 ingredients
TL;DR: Pricy. Drying. Helps unclog my clogged pores. Works, but probably could get something just as effective elsewhere.
Picked this up on a whim at Ulta because it had such good reviews. I will say it works well in decongesting my skin, but I can't use it daily unless I keep it far away from my undereyes, nonetheless twice a day like it recommends. It is very drying and can sting on broken Show more
Cleared up my skin nearly instantly, if I have any spots and use this, overnight I’m pretty much spot free. Highly recommend to anyone struggling with acne or breakouts
