This brightening serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening exfoliator is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Lactic 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 ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Olivate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Lecithin
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Silica
Abrasive
Pullulan
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Coco-Caprylate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Citric Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Saccharide Isomerate, Jojoba Esters, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Polyglycerin-3, Sodium Citrate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Phytate, Alcohol Denat., Silica, Pullulan, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Pachyrhizus Erosus Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Pachyrhizus Erosus Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract is from the Kakadu plum. The Kakadu plum is native to northern Australia. The Kakadu plum holds the record for having the highest amount of natural vitamin C.
This ingredient is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals and thus may reduce the signs of aging.
The high vitamin C content of Kakadu plum also helps lighten skin. Vitamin C has been shown to block the process of skin darkening that leads to hyperpigmentation.
Kakadu plums have been used by indigenous cultures as medicine to help treat colds and as an antiseptic.
Learn more about Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit ExtractWater. 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
