This brightening serum is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Tranexamic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and calm redness.
This brightening serum is formulated around Alpha-Arbutin and Niacinamide to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Azelaic Acid 10%
Buffering
Tranexamic Acid 3%
Astringent
Alpha-Arbutin 2%
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Azelaic Acid 10%, Tranexamic Acid 3%, Alpha-Arbutin 2%, Water, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Zinc Oxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Isostearyl Isostearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Stearic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Arbutin is a brightening active used to fade dark spots, melasma, and post-acne marks. Structurally, it is a hydroquinone with a sugar molecule attached (but is much gentler than raw hydroquinone).
It has a pretty elegant way of working; it slots into tyrosinase, or the key enzyme that your skin uses to make melanin), and competitively blocks it so your skin produces less pigment over time.
There are two forms of arbutin and alpha is the better one to reach for: it works at lower amounts, absorbs into skin more easily, and has a strong safety record.
The science backs this up too: lab and animal studies confirm it lowers melanin by blocking tyosinase and the more you use (up to a point), the more it works.
Human studies look good too.
A 2024 trial found a cream with 5% alpha-arbutin and 2% kojic acid worked about as well as a prescription melasma cream but with fewer side effects. Another study showed 2% alpha-arbutin paired with 10% Trihydroxybenzoic Acid Glucoside and sunscreen faded dark spots and melasma without causing irritation.
Concentration-wise, most serums land in the 1-2% range.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety concluded that alpha-arbutin is safe in face creams up to 2% and body lotions up to 0.5%.
Overall, this is a well-studied and low-irritation brightener that's a great pick for anyone dealing with uneven skin tone. It also pairs well with vitamin C, niacinamide, and sunscreen.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinGlycerin (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 Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateWater. 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
