This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and calm redness.
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Alpha-Arbutin to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSilica Silylate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingLactic Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citronellol
Perfuming
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propylene Glycol, Azelaic Acid, Niacinamide, Squalane, Alpha-Arbutin, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Silica Silylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Benzyl Benzoate, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Lactic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Potassium Sorbate, Citronellol, Morus Alba Root Extract, CI 19140, CI 42090, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Arbutin is a brightening active used to fade dark spots, melasma, and post-acne marks. Structurally, it is a hydroquinone with a sugar molecule attached (but is much gentler than raw hydroquinone).
It has a pretty elegant way of working; it slots into tyrosinase, or the key enzyme that your skin uses to make melanin), and competitively blocks it so your skin produces less pigment over time.
There are two forms of arbutin and alpha is the better one to reach for: it works at lower amounts, absorbs into skin more easily, and has a strong safety record.
The science backs this up too: lab and animal studies confirm it lowers melanin by blocking tyosinase and the more you use (up to a point), the more it works.
Human studies look good too.
A 2024 trial found a cream with 5% alpha-arbutin and 2% kojic acid worked about as well as a prescription melasma cream but with fewer side effects. Another study showed 2% alpha-arbutin paired with 10% Trihydroxybenzoic Acid Glucoside and sunscreen faded dark spots and melasma without causing irritation.
Concentration-wise, most serums land in the 1-2% range.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety concluded that alpha-arbutin is safe in face creams up to 2% and body lotions up to 0.5%.
Overall, this is a well-studied and low-irritation brightener that's a great pick for anyone dealing with uneven skin tone. It also pairs well with vitamin C, niacinamide, and sunscreen.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinButylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is also known as grapefruit or citricidal extract. It has perfuming and astringent properties.
Astringents shrinks tissue by drawing water out of your skin. This leads to a temporary tightening effect in the skin.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
