Slowpure Brightening Tone Serum Versus Dr Ceutics Tranexamic Acid 3% + Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-23 Serum
This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic 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
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
C12-13 Alketh-9
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentVitis Vinifera Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingHippophae Rhamnoides Extract
MaskingParfum
Masking
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, C12-13 Alketh-9, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Arbutin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Dextrin, Vitis Vinifera Vine Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Parfum
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Acetyl Cysteine
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
Antioxidant
Meteorite Extract
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-23
Bleaching
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPolydextrose
HumectantCalcium Pantothenate
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentSilica
Abrasive
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Acetyl Cysteine, Acetyl Glucosamine, Acetyl Glutamine, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Meteorite Extract, Butylene Glycol, Ferulic Acid, Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-23, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Polydextrose, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Maltodextrin, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica, Alpha-Arbutin, Dipotassium Phosphate, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is one of the most popular "stable" vitamin C derivatives in skincare.
Plain ascorbic acid is fantastic but notoriously fragile; it browns, oxidizes, and loses potency fast. So attaching an ethyl group to the third carbon of the molecule gives it some cool perks:
In a formula, it does the 3 classic vitamin C jobs: it acts as an antioxidant, helps brighten skin tone by inhibiting tyrosinase, and supports collagen.
The evidence is reasonably solid for a cosmetic ingredient; Liao and colleagues (2018) showed it's significantly more stable than ascorbic acid while still being effective.
A 2021 study by Zerbinati and colleagues tested a serum with 30% 3-O-ethyl-l-ascorbic acid and 1% lactic acid significantly increased collagen production, reduced UVB-induced DNA damage, and decreased melanin on a reconstructed pigmented skin model.
Typical real world usage sits around 0.5-5% (and 1-2% is common for daily serums).
Amounts up to 30% have been shown to be non-irritating on human skin samples, but two isolated cases reported allergic contact dermatitis so a patch test is sensible if you have reactive skin.
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl 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 GlycolNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideWater. 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
