Origins Mega-Bright Dark Spot Correcting Night Mask Versus Urban Skin Retinol Rapid Repair and Dark Spot Treatment
Updated on April 18, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
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
Origins Mega-Bright Dark Spot Correcting Night Mask 59 ingredients
Urban Skin Retinol Rapid Repair and Dark Spot Treatment 32 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Origins Mega-Bright Dark Spot Correcting Night Mask 59 ingredients
Urban Skin Retinol Rapid Repair and Dark Spot Treatment 32 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Isostearyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
PEG-100 Stearate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Viola Odorata Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingPolianthes Tuberosa Extract
MaskingCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingJasminum Officinale Flower Wax
EmollientGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Gentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Nigra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicHydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract
TonicSalicylic Acid
Masking
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Glucosamine Hcl
Arginine
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingPolysilicone-11
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Isostearyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Squalane, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Viola Odorata Flower/Leaf Extract, Polianthes Tuberosa Extract, Citronellol, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Wax, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Morus Nigra Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Phospholipids, Cholesterol, Glucosamine Hcl, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Trehalose, Tromethamine, Polysilicone-11, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Squalane
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Alchemilla Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AstringentMalva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrimula Veris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningVeronica Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AstringentMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Sulfite
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Achillea Millefolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyacrylamide, Kojic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Laureth-7, Tocopherol, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Metabisulfite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Squalane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycerin, Alpha-Arbutin, Ascorbic Acid, Glutathione, Azelaic Acid, Alchemilla Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Primula Veris Flower Extract, Veronica Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Hyaluronate, Achillea Millefolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin (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.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Squalane is an emollient that helps the skin hold onto moisture. It's an oily liquid that occurs naturally in certain types of fish and plant oils.
Because squalane boosts hydration in the skin, it also comes with plenty of benefits: it is an antioxidant and can help fight free radicals and skin damage. Squalane is also found to have a detoxifying effect when applied.
Squalane comes from squalene, which occurs naturally within the sebum of our skin. It is one of the oils our skin produces to keep itself hydrated. Squalane is the hydrogenated version of squalene and has a longer shelf life.
Research shows that squalane is non-irritating (even at 100% concentration).
In general, it's a fantastic ingredient. It does a great job at hydrating the skin, and it's suitable for those with sensitive skin.
The source of squalane may impact malassezia / fungal acne. This is because olive oil derived squalane can contain impurities such as fatty acids and plant waxes. Sugarcane derived squalane is recommended for anyone with malassezia concerns.
Is squalane vegan?
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Is squalane an oil?
Squalane is often called an oil, but it’s technically not; it’s a hydrocarbon, meaning it’s only made of carbon and hydrogen, unlike true oils which are triglycerides made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated, so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
While some people avoid oils thinking they cause breakouts, the right kind of oil (or oil-like ingredient like squalane) can actually help balance and hydrate your skin. It’s worth testing out simple oils or squalane to see what works best for your skin.
Learn more about SqualaneWater. 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 WaterIngredient Ratings
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When to use
Origins Mega-Bright Dark Spot Correcting Night Mask 59 ingredients
Urban Skin Retinol Rapid Repair and Dark Spot Treatment 32 ingredients
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Origins Mega-Bright Dark Spot Correcting Night Mask 59 ingredients
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