Tosowoong Alpha Arbutin 2% Rice Serum Versus Cos De BAHA 2% Hydroquinone + Arbutin + Niacinamide 4% Serum
This brightening serum is formulated around Alpha-Arbutin and Niacinamide to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening serum is formulated around Hydroquinone and Arbutin 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
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Methylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
Masking
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Angelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Honey Extract
Humectant
Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Pueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingAngelica Gigas Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phosphate
BufferingOryza Sativa Bran Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Alpha-Arbutin, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Methyl Gluceth-20, Water, Panthenol, Trehalose, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Honey Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Angelica Gigas Extract, Sodium Phosphate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroquinone
Stabilising
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialEucalyptus Globulus Leaf
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
ChelatingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Arbutin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroquinone, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salicylic Acid, Kojic Acid, Lactic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Disodium EDTA
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
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is a botanical extract pulled from the leaves of aloe vera and one of the most studied plant ingredients in cosmetics.
The inner leaf gel it comes from is mostly water (~99-99.5%) and the remaining fraction is made up of pretty good stuff: polysaccharides, vitamins, phenolics, and enzymes.
Its headline job is hydration.
The star polysaccharide in aloe, acemannan, is a humectant that retains moisture and helps reduce trans-epidermal water loss.
Aloe also has real soothing credentials; it contains anti-inflammatory compounds like bradykinase and C-glucosyl chromone that help calm irritation and redness.
On the repair side, lab work shows that acemannan wakes up your skin's repair cells (fibroblasts), prompting them to multiply and speed up healing.
There's some human data for cosmetic benefit too: a cream containing 10% Aloe Barbadensis leaf extract improved skin hydration and elasticity in a real-use study.
Safety-wise, this ingredient is well-regarded with just one rare downside; there have been some case reports of acute eczema, contact urticaria, and dermatitis in people who applied aloe-derived ingredients topically. Those with a known aloe or Liliaceae sensitivity should patch test.
Typical use levels range widely, from under 1% up to 90%+ depending on the format and the effect you are after.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractDisodium 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 EDTANiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about Niacinamide
