This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening serum is formulated around Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate and Tranexamic Acid 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 ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Raspberryketone Glucoside
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyacrylate-13
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyisobutene
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingWater, Propanediol, Niacinamide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tranexamic Acid, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Panthenol, Raspberryketone Glucoside, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylate-13, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyisobutene, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Morus Alba Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
PEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine
Skin ConditioningHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEllagic Acid
Skin Conditioning
4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Punica Granatum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tranexamic Acid, PEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Ellagic Acid, 4-Butylresorcinol, Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid, Maltodextrin, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Disodium EDTA, Lecithin, Sodium Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Nonapeptide-1
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium 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 EDTATranexamic Acid (TXA) is a synthetic lysine derivative that is becoming one of the most exciting brightening ingredients in skincare.
Originally used in medicine as an anti-hemorrhagic agent, its skin brightening potential was discovered by accident; patients taking it orally started noticing their melasma was fading.
Unlike most brighteners that target tyrosinase (the enzyme that synthesizes melanin), TXA works further upstream. It basically blocks your cells from receiving the signal to produce pigment.
This makes it one of the rare actives that works on three pathways at once:
This makes it effective for treating melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), and sun-induced dark spots.
The most effective cosmetic concentration sits between 2-5% and going higher doesn't boost results.
Side effects are generally mild; occasional irritation, flaking, or dryness have been reported at the start of use. Overall, this ingredient is pretty well tolerated, even by sensitive skin types.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it does not cause photosensitivity, so it's safe to use in the AM and PM.
Learn more about Tranexamic AcidWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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 Gum
