This brightening treatment is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Tranexamic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening serum is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Niacinamide 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 ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningBetulin
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantPEG-15/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
StabilisingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingHydrolyzed Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Dimethicone, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Panthenol, Isododecane, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Betulin, Alpha-Arbutin, PEG-15/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Hydrolyzed Beta-Glucan, Retinol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Phospholipids, Magnesium Sulfate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthoxydiglycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientKojic Dipalmitate
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventArbutin
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientEthyl Linoleate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBakuchiol
AntimicrobialTapioca Starch
Hexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBHT
AntioxidantSodium Stearate
CleansingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeTetrasodium EDTA
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Water, Azelaic Acid, Niacinamide, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Dimethicone, Kojic Dipalmitate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Arbutin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethyl Linoleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bakuchiol, Tapioca Starch, Hexylresorcinol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Phenoxyethanol, BHT, Sodium Stearate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Silybum Marianum Extract, Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeWater. 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