This anti-aging serum is formulated around Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract and Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Arbutin to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Extract
Skin ProtectingPrunus Avium Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycereth-26
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Rubus Idaeus Extract, Prunus Avium Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Arginine, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientArbutin
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Panax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Hexapeptide-2
Bleaching
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Hydrolyzed DNA
Skin ConditioningBiotin
Antiseborrhoeic3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pyridoxine
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Arbutin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Arginine, Carbomer, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Adenosine, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Ferulic Acid, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Hexapeptide-2, Soluble Collagen, Hydrolyzed DNA, Biotin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Pyridoxine
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser.
On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LaurateWater. 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
