This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening serum is formulated around Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten dull-looking skin and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract 83%
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide 10%
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientBisabolol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Junos Peel Oil
Astringent
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Morus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningInositol
Humectant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract 83%, Niacinamide 10%, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Bisabolol, Carbomer, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Citrus Junos Peel Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Water, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Tocopherol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Panthenol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Biotin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Cyanocobalamin, Linoleic Acid, Riboflavin, Beta-Carotene, Inositol, Thiamine Hcl, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
ChelatingWater, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Magnesium PCA, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Betaine, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Reviews
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
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 TriglycerideGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract is from the Neem tree. Neem trees originate from India.
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
The flowers of this tree are lilac colored.
Learn more about Melia Azadirachta Flower ExtractThis ingredient is also known as neem leaf extract. It contains natural compounds like nimbidin, quercetin, and other polyphenols that give it antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activity.
Lab studies have shown neem leaf extract can inhibit acne-related bacteria and help calm skin. Animal studies on wound gels using 1-3% neem leaf extract found it sped up healing without causing irritation.
A wound-healing study testing gels with the extract at 1%, 2%, and 3% concentrations and found none of them irritated the skin.
Most commercial products also use it in a similar low range (typically under 5%).
Allergy-wise, there are some case reports on neem oil causing allergic contact dermatitis so people with plant/botanical sensitivities may want to patch test first.
Learn more about Melia Azadirachta Leaf ExtractWater. 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
