This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Tocopherol to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This calming ampoule is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate to calm redness and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Lecithin
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vitis Vinifera, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Ferulic Acid, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Azelamide Mea
Foam BoostingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Water, Azelaic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Disodium Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Maltodextrin, Azelamide Mea, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinMaltodextrin is a plant-derived carbohydrate made by breaking down starch (usually from corn, potato, or rice). In cosmetic formulas, it's a multitasking absorbent, emulsion stabilizer, and skin conditioner.
This ingredient is mostly used to stabilize emulsions and improve the powdery, non-greasy feel of products (like dry shampoos).
Safety-wise, this ingredient is pretty solid; it's even recognized as a food additive. Both animal and clinical studies found no adverse effects at the levels used in cosmetics.
Industry data shows this ingredient is used up to 45.7% in spray products and up to 33% in powder products.
Learn more about MaltodextrinSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
