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
Polysorbate 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
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-ArbutinWater. 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
