This brightening ampoule is formulated around Niacinamide and Adenosine to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles.
This brightening toner is formulated around Tranexamic Acid and Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Gelatin
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningSalmon Egg Extract
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
CI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantGlutathione
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Rye Flour Ferment
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Calcium Pantothenate
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Rhizobian Gum
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Glycine
Buffering
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Benzyl Glycol
SolventAspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Threonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Raspberry Ketone
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Gelatin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Parfum, Citric Acid, Adenosine, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Soluble Proteoglycan, Salmon Egg Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, CI 15510, CI 17200, Glutathione, Biotin, Ascorbic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Lactobacillus/Rye Flour Ferment, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Maltodextrin, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Ceramide NP, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Rhizobian Gum, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycine, Acacia Senegal Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Benzyl Glycol, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Riboflavin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Thiamine Hcl, Pantothenic Acid, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Alanine, Lysine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Caprylyl Glycol, Threonine, Proline, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Hyaluronic Acid, Raspberry Ketone
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantPEG-6
HumectantPEG-32
HumectantStyrene/Vp Copolymer
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydroxylated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingSodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Diglycerin, PEG-8, PEG-6, PEG-32, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxylated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
Learn more about Citric AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
