This brightening serum is formulated around Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and calm redness.
This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and refine the look of pores.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingEssence
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Beta-Glucan, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Ceramide EOP, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Panthenol, Ectoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Essence
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingTranexamic Acid
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventVinyldimethicone
Glycereth-26
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingBisabolol
AntioxidantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Vinyldimethicone, Glycereth-26, Isononyl Isononanoate, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Sorbitan Oleate, Tromethamine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Bisabolol, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 80, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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