Skin science article
Laboratoire ACM Dépiwhite Advanced Intensive Anti-Brown Spot Cream Versus Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum: Rice + Arbutin
Laboratoire ACM Dépiwhite Advanced Intensive Anti-Brown Spot Cream Versus Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum: Rice + Arbutin This brightening treatment is formulated around Kojic Acid and Lactic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
Laboratoire ACM Dépiwhite Advanced Intensive Anti-Brown Spot Cream Versus Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum: Rice + Arbutin
This brightening treatment is formulated around Kojic Acid and Lactic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening serum is formulated around Alpha-Arbutin and Niacinamide to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Propanediol
Glycerin
Behenyl Alcohol
C12-13 Alkyl Lactate
Hydrogenated Coconut Acid
Propylene Glycol
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Kojic Acid
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
Magnesium Sulfate
Manganese Sulfate
Lactic Acid
Aluminum Silicate
Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
Niacinamide
Reseda Luteola Extract
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Carum Petroselinum Extract
Tocopherol
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
1,2-Hexanediol
Pentylene Glycol
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Isohexadecane
Disodium EDTA
Methylpropanediol
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Hexamidine Diisethionate
Sodium Metabisulfite
Polysorbate 80
T-Butyl Alcohol
Sorbitan Oleate
Water, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Propanediol, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Hydrogenated Coconut Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Kojic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Magnesium Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Lactic Acid, Aluminum Silicate, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Niacinamide, Reseda Luteola Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Carum Petroselinum Extract, Tocopherol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Disodium EDTA, Methylpropanediol, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Hexamidine Diisethionate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Polysorbate 80, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Oleate
Oryza Sativa Bran Water 68.6%
Butylene Glycol
Dipropylene Glycol
Alpha-Arbutin 2%
Methyl Gluceth-20
Panthenol
Polyglycerin-3
Trehalose
Glyceryl Glucoside
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Xanthan Gum
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Arginine
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Sorbitan Isostearate
Glucose
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Hordeum Distichon Extract
Oryza Sativa Extract
Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Triticum Vulgare Seed Extract
Vigna Radiata Seed Extract
Zea Mays Kernel Extract
Oryza Sativa Bran Water 68.6%, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Alpha-Arbutin 2%, Niacinamide, Methyl Gluceth-20, Panthenol, Polyglycerin-3, Trehalose, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Disodium EDTA, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glucose, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hordeum Distichon Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Triticum Vulgare Seed Extract, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract, Zea Mays Kernel Extract
Reviews
Alternatives
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
Disodium 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%.
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.
Niacinamide 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.
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!