StriVectin Peptight Tightening & Brightening Face Serum Versus Neutrogena Bright Boost Illuminating Serum
This brightening serum is formulated around Acetyl Glucosamine and Hexylresorcinol 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 ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMyristyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthium Sibiricum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCyathea Cumingii Leaf Extract
Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpinia Officinarum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tetrapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Polyimide-1
Sorghum Bicolor Stalk Juice
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Pullulan
Aminomethyl Propanol
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Gluconate
ChelatingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium EDTA
ChelatingLecithin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCinnamic Acid
Perfuming
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic Acid
CleansingIsohexadecane
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Parfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Poloxamer 338
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Magnesium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Myristyl Nicotinate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-40 Stearate, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Xanthium Sibiricum Fruit Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Cyathea Cumingii Leaf Extract, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Alpinia Officinarum Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tetrapeptide-21, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Ceramide Ng, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Adenosine, Phospholipids, Polysorbate 80, Polyimide-1, Sorghum Bicolor Stalk Juice, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Xylitol, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pullulan, Aminomethyl Propanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Gluconate, Sorbitan Oleate, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Cinnamic Acid, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Caprylic Acid, Isohexadecane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Maltodextrin, Poloxamer 338, Silica, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Geraniol, Citral, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
Antioxidant
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Amodimethicone
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Acetyl Glucosamine, Propylene Glycol, Dimethiconol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Hexylresorcinol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Parfum, Amodimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Mica, Titanium Dioxide
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
