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Skin Functional Dark Mark Management 2% Alpha Arbutin + Hyper-Brite Complex Ingredients Explained

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Published on August 16, 2021 Submitted by Sedi

Overview

What it is

Serum with 23 ingredients that contains niacinamide and peptides

Cool Features

It is fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe

Suited For

It has ingredients that are good for fighting acne, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

It doesn't contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

Fun facts

Skin Functional is from South Africa. This product is used in 6 routines created by our community.

We independently verify ingredients and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Does this product need an update? Let us know.

You should know

Here's our breakdown of the notable ingredients, benefits, and concerns we determined from the ingredients in this product. Click any item to learn more.

Notable Ingredients

Niacinamide
Peptides

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing
Reduces Large Pores
Dark Spots (4)
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

Ingredients Overview

Here's our quick-to-read summary of the ingredients in this product. Keep scrolling if you'd like to learn more about what each ingredient does!
Ingredient
Features
1
Skin Conditioning, Solvent
2
Skin Conditioning
Peptide Icon
3
Astringent, Skin Conditioning
Good for Dark Spots Icon
4
Humectant, Solvent
0 / 0
5
Antioxidant, Bleaching, Skin Conditioning
Antioxidant IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing Icon
6
Smoothing
Niacinamide IconGood for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Dark Spots IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin Icon
7
Solvent
8
Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing Icon
9
Skin Protecting
10
Skin Conditioning
11
Skin Conditioning
12
Skin Protecting
13
Skin Conditioning, Soothing
14
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
1 / 0
15
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
16
Skin Conditioning
17
Skin Conditioning
18
Emulsion Stabilising
19
Skin Protecting
20
Skin Conditioning, Solvent
21
Emollient, Skin Conditioning
22
23
Skin Conditioning

Ingredients Explained

This product contains 23 ingredients. Click on any ingredient to learn more about it
1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. 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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
2
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Nonapeptide-1 is created from amino acids including arginine and lysine.

Nonapeptide-1 has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Emerging studies show Nonapeptide-1 to help with reducing pigmentation and brightening the skin. It has shown to prevent the activation of tyrosinase, an enzyme in the skin that begins the process of melanin creation. Melanin is responsible for giving skin a tan or dark spots.

Learn more about Nonapeptide-1
3
What it does: Astringent, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Tranexamic Acid is best used for treating hyperpigmentation, discoloration, and melasma. It can also help build a stronger skin barrier.

Once applied, Tranexamic Acid starts decreasing inflammation from UV exposure. Tranexamic Acid also prevents our skin cells from meeting the pigment production cells.

Fun fact: Tranexamic Acid is also a medication used to reduce heavy bleeding.

This acid is derived from lysine, an amino acid.

Learn more about Tranexamic Acid
4
What it does: Humectant, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethoxydiglycol is a synthetic solvent.

Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.

Ethoxydiglycol also helps deliver other key ingredients into the skin.

Learn more about Ethoxydiglycol
5
What it does: Antioxidant, Bleaching, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Alpha-Arbutin is made from hydroquinone and glucose. It may be derived from the fermentation of soybeans.

It is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may damage your skin cells.

Studies show this ingredient helps improve hyperpigmentation and fade discoloration.

Alpha-Arbutin may be used with other ingredients that help with hyperpigmentation. These ingredients include retinol, Vitamin C, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid.

Learn more about Alpha-Arbutin
6
What it does: Smoothing
Community Rating: Loved

Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.

It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.

Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.

The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.

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.

Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.

Learn more about Niacinamide
7
What it does: Solvent
Community Rating: Liked

Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.

It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol
8
What it does: Antioxidant
Community Rating: Loved

Kojic acid comes from fungi and can also be from fermented foods.

Kojic Acid helps even out skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation. It works by blocking tyrosine, an enzyme that starts the process of skin darkening.

Kojic Acid is antifungal and often used to treat fungal infections. Additionally, Kojic Acid can help fight bacteria with its antimicrobrial properties. A side effect may be treating acne caused by bacteria.

Kojic Acid has similar benefits to arbutin.

Learn more about Kojic Acid
9
What it does: Skin Protecting

We don't have a description for Sargassum Fusiforme Extract.

10
What it does: Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Arisaema Amurense Extract.

11
What it does: Skin Conditioning

This ingredient is the stem of the Reishi mushroom.

The Reishi mushroom has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.

This is due to its content of terpenoids, polysaccharides, macronutrients, and phenolic acids.

Learn more about Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
12
What it does: Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Mixed

Laminaria Japonica Extract comes from a kelp more commonly known as 'sweet kelp'. It is commonly eaten in Japan, Korea, and China.

Sweet kelp is a humectant and helps hydrate your skin. Humectants draw moisture from the air to your skin.

Studies show Laminaria Japonica has antioxidant compounds. Antioxidants may help with anti-aging. Kelp also contains magnesium and zinc, making it great for calming inflammation and redness.

Learn more about Laminaria Japonica Extract
13
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Soothing

Rumex Occidentalis Extract comes from a flowering plant native to western North America. It is also called 'western dock'.

Western dock is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants may protect your skin against the signs of aging.

Rumex Occidentalis is a potential melasma treatment. The current studies look positive but conclude further research is needed.

Learn more about Rumex Occidentalis Extract
14
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

15
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Liked

Undaria Pinnatifida Extract comes from a kelp native to the northern Pacific Ocean. It is more commonly known as "wakame".

This kelp contains fatty acids, sodium, calcium, iodine, thiamine, and niacin. Studies show a polysaccharide known as fucoidan exhibits strong antioxidant activities. Fucoidan can be found in the cell walls of many species of brown seaweed.

Wakame prefers cold and temperate oceans. It is used in Japanese and Korean cuisine (yummy!).

Learn more about Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
16
What it does: Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract.

17
What it does: Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Sargassum Fulvellum Extract.

18
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Disliked

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.

It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.

One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.

Learn more about Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
19
What it does: Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Disliked

We don't have a description for Enteromorpha Compressa Extract.

20
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

1,2-Hexanediol is a multi-tasker ingredient. It acts as a preservative to increase shelf-life and can aid other preservatives in preventing microbe growth. 1,2-Hexanediol also helps the skin retain moisture as a humectant.

In products that are water-based, this ingredient can help stabilize perfumes and fragrances. It can also help make the texture of products softer and more smooth.

21
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Grifola Frondosa Fruiting Body Extract.

22
What it does:

We don't have a description for Octanediol.

23
What it does: Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Tropolone.

Embed Ingredients

Here's what our community thinks of the 23 ingredients in this product ✨

35% are loved or liked
17% have mixed ratings
9% are disliked or very disliked
39% have no rating yet

When to use

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

Directions

Apply two to three drops morning and evening to a clean, dry face.

Apply two to three drops morning and evening to a clean, dry face.

When to use

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The data we've presented on this page has been verified by a member of the SkinSort Team.

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