This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Acetyl Glucosamine to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide 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
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
ChelatingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ferulic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Phytic Acid
Chelating
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningUndecylenoyl Phenylalanine
Skin Conditioning
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Farnesol
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Arisaema Amurense Extract
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberArginine
Masking
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hexapeptide-2
Bleaching
Glabridin
BleachingLactic Acid
Buffering
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Linalool
Perfuming
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingC15-19 Alkane
SolventSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
ChelatingSodium Hydrosulfite
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentCitric Acid
Buffering
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Water, Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tranexamic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Phytic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 4-Butylresorcinol, Glycerin, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Kojic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Allantoin, Farnesol, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Arisaema Amurense Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Arginine, Bisabolol, Hexapeptide-2, Glabridin, Lactic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Linalool, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Acetyl Tyrosine, Glutathione, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Polyacrylamide, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Lauryl Glucoside, C15-19 Alkane, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydrosulfite, Laureth-7, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dextrin, Citric Acid, Decyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lecithin, Sodium Sulfite
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
Acetyl Glucosamine is an antioxidant and humectant. It is an amino acid sugar and is naturally found in our skin.
The cool thing about this ingredient? It helps the skin produce hyaluronic acid and boost hydration. It also has antioxidant benefits to protect skin cells.
When paired with niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine has been shown to be effective at reducing discoloration.
Learn more about Acetyl GlucosamineButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide
