This brightening serum is formulated around Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This anti-aging ampoule is formulated around Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Palmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Glycerin
Humectant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Citric Acid, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Glycerin, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin Conditioning2,3-Butanediol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Water
MaskingSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTriisostearin
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycogen
HumectantInositol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Water, 2,3-Butanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Water, Soluble Collagen, Squalane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Triisostearin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Panthenol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ceramide NP, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Tromethamine, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trehalose, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cyanocobalamin, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycogen, Inositol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol
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
Curcuma Longa Root Extract comes from the rhizome (underground stem) of the turmeric plant.
While the official EU Cosing Database lists this ingredient as a fragrance, it actually does more than give products a scent.
This ingredient contains a group of yellow pigments called curcuminoids (mostly curcumin) that give it genuine antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in skin.
Reviews of topical clinical studies have found turmeric/curcumin to be generally well-tolerated and useful across conditions like eczema and mild inflammation.
One thing working in its favor is that curcumin barely penetrates; in lab skin-permeation testing, the curcuminoids mostly stayed in the outermost layer of skin. This is a good thing because its soothing and antioxidant activity is a surface-level job anyway.
At this time, industry data shows there's no single "correct" cosmetic percentage. It's used across a wide range depending on the product and varies from tiny fractions of a percent up to a few percent.
Allergy-wise, curcumin is a documented (but uncommon) contact allergen. It can also cross react with related plants, so anyone with a turmeric/ginger/cinnamon allergy or reactive skin should patch test first.
Learn more about Curcuma Longa Root ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
