Minimalist Tranexamic 03% Versus Minimalist Alpha Arbutin 2% Face Serum
Updated on July 14, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free, fungal acne (malassezia) safe, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Minimalist Tranexamic 03% 20 ingredients
Minimalist Alpha Arbutin 2% Face Serum 20 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Minimalist Tranexamic 03% 20 ingredients
Minimalist Alpha Arbutin 2% Face Serum 20 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Mandelic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Pentylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventEthoxydiglycol
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventIsoceteth-20
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ethoxydiglycol, Alpha-Arbutin, Lactic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, 4-Butylresorcinol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Triethanolamine, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Isoceteth-20, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterDimethyl Isosorbide is a solvent and helps deliver actives into your skin. It is created from sorbitol.
As a solvent, dimethyl isosorbide helps dissolve other ingredients. This helps ensure even distribution of an ingredient. It may also be used to decrease the thickness of a product.
Studies show dimethyl isosorbide is able to penetrate skin to deliver other ingredients into the skin, making them more effective.
Learn more about Dimethyl IsosorbideEthoxydiglycol is a synthetic solvent.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Ethoxydiglycol also helps deliver other key ingredients into the skin.
Learn more about EthoxydiglycolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.
This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.
As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.
This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sclerotium Gum is a polysaccharide gum made by the fungus, Sclerotium rolfssii. It is similar to xanthan gum.
In cosmetics, Sclerotium Gum is used to thicken the texture and to help stabilize other ingredients.
As an emulsifier, Sclerotium Gum helps prevent ingredients from separating, such as water and oil.
Learn more about Sclerotium GumPullulan is a low viscosity polysaccharide (a long chain carbohydrate) with binding and film forming properties when dissolved in water. It is used to create a "silicone-like" or silky feel in cosmetics without adding viscosity.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient's ability to easily dissolves makes it a great carrier for active ingredients.
Due to it being edible and tasteless, you'll likely find this ingredient in breath freshener strips. This ingredient is produced from the starch of the fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans.
Pullulan is stable over a broad-range of pH.
Learn more about PullulanEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Minimalist Tranexamic 03% 20 ingredients
Minimalist Alpha Arbutin 2% Face Serum 20 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Minimalist Tranexamic 03% 20 ingredients
I've heard such great things about tranxemic acid. I wanted to use something to help get rid of PIH. This caused a huge FA flare up. Tranxemic Acid is derived from an amino acid - Lysine.
When amino acids are in the presence of lipids (fats, fatty acids, oils, esters etc.) they can enhance the growth of malassezia. Since we naturally have fats and oils on our skin, amino acids can be Show more
I've been using this for years- on and off. Using it as an overnight serum gives me glowy, soft skin the next day. Dark spots fade much quicker while I'm on this! I try to use it atleast 3-4x a week. Works better than most brightening serums I use, and doesn't irritate my sebderm!
