This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Ergothioneine to brighten dull-looking skin and calm redness.
This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 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 ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-6
Skin Conditioning
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Bixa Orellana Seed Extract
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Isoceteth-20
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Propanediol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ergothioneine, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Heptapeptide-6, Tocotrienols, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Glycerin, Isoceteth-20, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Citrus Junos Peel Oil
Astringent
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Saccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentRubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelilotus Officinalis Extract
AstringentAstaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Saccharide Isomerate, Trehalose, Citrus Junos Peel Oil, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Allantoin, Carbomer, Arginine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Maltodextrin, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Astaxanthin, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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
