Wardah Symradiance399 + 5% Niacinamide Moisture Gel Versus Glad2Glow Yuja Symwhite 377 Dark Spot Moisturizer
This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening moisturizer is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Phenylethyl Resorcinol 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
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Amodimethicone
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-9
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Parfum, Amodimethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Trideceth-9, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate-13
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tetrapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Polyisobutene
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Aroma
Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Betaine, Isopropyl Palmitate, Allantoin, Glycereth-26, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyacrylate-13, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Ceramide NP, Tetrapeptide-1, Nonapeptide-1, Polyisobutene, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Aroma, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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
