COSRX The Alpha-Arbutin 2 Discoloration Care Serum Versus COSRX The Alpha-Arbutin Discoloration Care Hydrogel Mask

COSRX The Alpha-Arbutin 2 Discoloration Care Serum Versus COSRX The Alpha-Arbutin Discoloration Care Hydrogel Mask Detailed comparison of COSRX The Alpha-Arbutin 2 Discoloration Care Serum versus COSRX The Alpha-Arbutin Discoloration Care Hydrogel Mask. This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. This brightening sheet mask is formulated around Niacinamide and Alpha-Arbutin to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. Water Propanediol Glycerin Niacinamide 5% Tranexamic Acid Acetyl Glucosamine 2% Alpha-Arbutin 2% 1,2-Hexanediol Dimethicone Dimethyl Isosorbide Diethoxyethyl Succinate Butylene Glycol Citric Acid Alcohol Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate Hydrogenated Lecithin Xanthan Gum Sodium Metabisulfite Disodium EDTA Ethylhexylglycerin Dextrin Theobroma Cacao Extract Sodium Citrate Madecassoside Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate Sodium Hyaluronate Tocopherol Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Hyaluronic Acid Ferulic Acid Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Panthenol Arginine Methyl Trimethicone Allantoin Glutathione Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide 5%, Tranexamic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine 2%, Alpha-Arbutin 2%, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Alcohol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Metabisulfite, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Sodium Citrate, Madecassoside, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panthenol, Arginine, Methyl Trimethicone, Allantoin, Glutathione, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate Acrylates Copolymer Niacinamide Ceratonia Siliqua Gum Chondrus Crispus Agar Betaine Sclerotium Gum Potassium Chloride Alpha-Arbutin Erythritol Sucrose Cellulose Gum Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate Acetyl Glucosamine Adenosine Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract Hydrolyzed Collagen Sodium Phytate Cetearyl Alcohol Stearic Acid Pentylene Glycol Ceramide NP Ceramide Ns Cholesterol Phytosphingosine Ceramide AP Ceramide As Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate Ceramide EOP Water, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus, Agar, Betaine, Sclerotium Gum, Potassium Chloride, Alpha-Arbutin, Erythritol, Sucrose, Cellulose Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Phytate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Ferulic Acid, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Glutathione, Ceramide EOP 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 Acetyl Glucosamine is an antioxidant and humectant. It is an amino acid sugar and is naturally found in our skin. The cool thing about this ingredient? It helps the skin produce hyaluronic acid and boost hydration. It also has antioxidant benefits to protect skin cells. When paired with niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine has been shown to be effective at reducing discoloration. 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. Alpha-Arbutin is a brightening active used to fade dark spots, melasma, and post-acne marks. Structurally, it is a hydroquinone with a sugar molecule attached (but is much gentler than raw hydroquinone). It has a pretty elegant way of working; it slots into tyrosinase, or the key enzyme that your skin uses to make melanin), and competitively blocks it so your skin produces less pigment over time. There are two forms of arbutin and alpha is the better one to reach for: it works at lower amounts, absorbs into skin more easily, and has a strong safety record. The science backs this up too: lab and animal studies confirm it lowers melanin by blocking tyosinase and the more you use (up to a point), the more it works. Human studies look good too. A 2024 trial found a cream with 5% alpha-arbutin and 2% kojic acid worked about as well as a prescription melasma cream but with fewer side effects. Another study showed 2% alpha-arbutin paired with 10% Trihydroxybenzoic Acid Glucoside and sunscreen faded dark spots and melasma without ca