Some By Mi Yuja Niacin 30 Days Blemish Care Serum Mask Versus Hada Labo Shirojyun Whitening Milky Lotion
This brightening sheet mask is formulated around Arbutin to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Tranexamic Acid and Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 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
Niacinamide Glycolate 2%
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Arbutin
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glutathione
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Niacinamide Glycolate 2%, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Carbomer, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Arbutin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glutathione, Limonene, Geraniol
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tranexamic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate, Xanthan Gum, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol
