This brightening toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingTranexamic Acid
Astringent
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
ChelatingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Octanediol
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPvp
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Fullerenes
AntimicrobialArbutin
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Panthenol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, C12-14 Pareth-12, Tranexamic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Octanediol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Lactobionic Acid, Glyceryl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyanocobalamin, Pvp, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Caprylyl Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Fullerenes, Arbutin, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Phytosterols, Ascorbyl Glucoside
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinTocopherol 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
