Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum Versus Dermalogica Clear Start Post-Breakout Fix
This brightening serum is formulated around Glycolic Acid and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening treatment is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Hexylresorcinol to fade the look of dark spots and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Tromethamine
BufferingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberButeth-3
SolventTributyl Citrate
SolventTris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate
ChelatingWater, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Glycolic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tranexamic Acid, Niacinamide, Sodium Citrate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Allantoin, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose Gum, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Buteth-3, Tributyl Citrate, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Alcohol, Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaffeyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Salicylic Acid, Hexylresorcinol, Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Squalane, Glycerin, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Phytosterols, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caffeyl Glucoside, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Reviews
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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol 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 PropanediolWater. 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
