Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum versus Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide .
Last updated on November 18, 2023. Published on March 21, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain niacinamide and Vitamin C
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols and fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Price
Ingredient Info
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum 35 ingredients
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide 24 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum 35 ingredients
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide 24 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum 35 ingredients
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide 24 ingredients
Water • 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 • Tristearyl Citrate • Alcohol • Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate
Niacinamide 4% • Water • Alcohol • Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Polysorbate 20 • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate • 1,2-Hexanediol • Caprylyl Glycol • Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil • Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil • Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract • Biotin • Sodium Citrate • Sodium Metabisulfite • Sodium Sulfite • Citric Acid • Disodium EDTA • T-Butyl Alcohol • Disodium Phosphate • Polysorbate 60 • Parfum • Sodium Phosphate • Denatonium Benzoate
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterHero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide contains this as ingredient number 2.
1,2-Hexanediol is a multi-tasker ingredient. It acts as a preservative to increase shelf-life and can aid other preservatives in preventing microbe growth. 1,2-Hexanediol also helps the skin retain moisture as a humectant.
In products that are water-based, this ingredient can help stabilize perfumes and fragrances. It can also help make the texture of products softer and more smooth.
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide contains this as ingredient number 8.
Niacinamide 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 NiacinamideHero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide contains this as ingredient number 1.
Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Sodium Citrate helps maintain the pH of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Sodium Citrate is a chelating agent. It neutralizes metal ions from water and prevents them from binding to other ingredients. This ensures the other ingredients will not be altered.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateHero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide contains this as ingredient number 14.
Hydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
Hydroxyethylcellulose helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseHero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide contains this as ingredient number 6.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is usually an astringent alcohol.
These alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Fatty alcohols come from plant oils such as coconut oil. These can help hydrate the skin and are non-irritating. Some fatty alcohols include cetyl and stearyl alcohol.
Learn more about AlcoholHero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 34.
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide contains this as ingredient number 3.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum 35 ingredients
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide 24 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum 35 ingredients
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide 24 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum 35 ingredients
Azibeth
Does what it’s supposed to do. It will fade your marks, especially when you’re consistent with it. Leaves tiny whiteheads though, probably the...
Does what it’s supposed to do. It will fade your marks, especially when you’re consistent with it. Leaves tiny whiteheads though, probably the glycolic acid. But it has most of the lightening agents in it, except for kogic acid. Wait till your face is 100% dry to use it. And the roller ball is a little useless, I just use my finger.
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide 24 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 49 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum.
See 49 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 15 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum 4% Niacinamide.
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