This brightening treatment is formulated around Tranexamic Acid and Niacinamide to fade the look of dark spots and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Chelating
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantStearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Distearyldimonium Chloride
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMethylparaben
Preservative
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
EDTA
ChelatingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Water, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Hydroxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Steareth-21, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Ubiquinone, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Polysorbate 60, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Stearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methylparaben, Bisabolol, EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyisobutene
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Nelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPolylysine
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Glutathione
Lecithin
Emollient
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-23
Bleaching
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Decapeptide-40
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Tranexamic Acid, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Palmitic Acid, Betaine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Adenosine, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tocopherol, Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Trehalose, Ectoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Dextrin, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polylysine, Arachidic Acid, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Ceramide NP, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oleic Acid, Glutathione, Lecithin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-23, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Decapeptide-40
Reviews
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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPolysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Water. 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
