Skin science article
Alastin A-Luminate Brightening Serum Versus Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides
Alastin A-Luminate Brightening Serum Versus Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. This brightening serum is formulated around Gluconolact
Alastin A-Luminate Brightening Serum Versus Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides
This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening serum is formulated around Gluconolactone to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Squalane
Glycerin
Niacinamide
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
Tranexamic Acid
Glucosyl Hesperidin
Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Lactoferrin
Plankton Extract
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Acetylhydroxyprolyl Dipeptide-12
Hexapeptide-11
Hexapeptide-12
Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Dipeptide-51
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Phospholipids
Fructose
Betaine
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Propanediol
Lecithin
Caprylyl Methicone
Dimethicone
Mannitol
Phosphatidylcholine
1,2-Hexanediol
Cetyl Alcohol
Xanthan Gum
Tocopherol
Citric Acid
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Decyl Glucoside
Caprylyl Glycol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Benzoate
Phenoxyethanol
Sodium Chloride
Silica
Tin Oxide
CI 77891
Water, Squalane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Tranexamic Acid, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Lactoferrin, Plankton Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Acetylhydroxyprolyl Dipeptide-12, Hexapeptide-11, Hexapeptide-12, Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Dipeptide-51, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Phospholipids, Fructose, Betaine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Propanediol, Lecithin, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone, Mannitol, Phosphatidylcholine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Silica, Tin Oxide, CI 77891
Butylene Glycol
Artocarpus Lakoocha Wood Extract
Gluconolactone
Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine
Lactic Acid
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Calcium Gluconate
Sodium Metabisulfite
Tetrapeptide-30
Hydroxyresveratrol
Water, Butylene Glycol, Artocarpus Lakoocha Wood Extract, Gluconolactone, Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Tetrapeptide-30, Hydroxyresveratrol
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Xanthan 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.