What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Isosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Oil
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingKojic Acid
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Arthrospira Platensis Extract
Antioxidant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate
Skin ProtectingPunica Granatum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCollagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Origanum Vulgare Oil
Masking
Thymus Vulgaris Oil
Masking
Curcuma Longa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin Protecting
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Amber Powder
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tranexamic Acid, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Niacinamide, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Xanthan Gum, Kojic Acid, Lactic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Arthrospira Platensis Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Collagen Amino Acids, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Origanum Vulgare Oil, Thymus Vulgaris Oil, Curcuma Longa Leaf Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Maltodextrin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Amber Powder, Hydroxyacetophenone
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Arbutin is a brightening active used to fade dark spots, melasma, and post-acne marks. Structurally, it is a hydroquinone with a sugar molecule attached (but is much gentler than raw hydroquinone).
It has a pretty elegant way of working; it slots into tyrosinase, or the key enzyme that your skin uses to make melanin), and competitively blocks it so your skin produces less pigment over time.
There are two forms of arbutin and alpha is the better one to reach for: it works at lower amounts, absorbs into skin more easily, and has a strong safety record.
The science backs this up too: lab and animal studies confirm it lowers melanin by blocking tyosinase and the more you use (up to a point), the more it works.
Human studies look good too.
A 2024 trial found a cream with 5% alpha-arbutin and 2% kojic acid worked about as well as a prescription melasma cream but with fewer side effects. Another study showed 2% alpha-arbutin paired with 10% Trihydroxybenzoic Acid Glucoside and sunscreen faded dark spots and melasma without causing irritation.
Concentration-wise, most serums land in the 1-2% range.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety concluded that alpha-arbutin is safe in face creams up to 2% and body lotions up to 0.5%.
Overall, this is a well-studied and low-irritation brightener that's a great pick for anyone dealing with uneven skin tone. It also pairs well with vitamin C, niacinamide, and sunscreen.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidWater. 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
