IMAGE skincare Iluma Intense Brightening Serum Versus Glymed Plus Brilliant Tone

IMAGE skincare Iluma Intense Brightening Serum Versus Glymed Plus Brilliant Tone Detailed comparison of IMAGE skincare Iluma Intense Brightening Serum versus Glymed Plus Brilliant Tone. This brightening serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Arbutin to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots. This brightening serum is formulated around Arbutin and Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. Water Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract Algae Extract Artemisia Vulgaris Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract Dimethicone/Methicone Copolymer Hexylresorcinol Arbutin Azelaic Acid Sucrose Palmitate Pueraria Tuberosa Leaf Cell Extract Chlorella Vulgaris Extract Hydrolyzed Corallina Officinalis Morus Alba Leaf Extract Centella Asiatica Extract Echinacea Purpurea Extract Rumex Occidentalis Extract Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract Salix Nigra Bark Extract Tocopheryl Acetate Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Xanthan Gum Polysorbate 20 Potassium Sorbate Disodium EDTA Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin Citric Acid Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate Water, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Algae Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Dimethicone/Methicone Copolymer, Hexylresorcinol, Arbutin, Azelaic Acid, Sucrose Palmitate, Pueraria Tuberosa Leaf Cell Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Hydrolyzed Corallina Officinalis, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Rumex Occidentalis Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract Butylene Glycol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Glycerin Hydroxyethylcellulose Kojic Acid Ascorbic Acid Lactic Acid Niacinamide Pentylene Glycol Propanediol Sodium Hydroxide Diacetyl Boldine Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Arbutin, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Kojic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Lactic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Water, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Diacetyl Boldine, Rumex Occidentalis Extract These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Arbutin is a naturally occurring molecule (found in bearberry, cranberry, and blueberry) that is used in skincare as a gentle brightening agent to fade dark spots, melasma, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Chemically, it is a sugar-bound form of hydroquinone. It works mainly by inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme your skin uses to make melanin. This means less new pigment gets produced over time. There are two forms you'll see on labels: beta-arbutin (listed as just "Arbutin") and alpha-arbutin (the more stable and effective of the two). The evidence behind this is solid: it's less cytotoxic to melanocytes than hydroquinone and comparably effective with kojic acid for hyperpigmentation. One human study using a 10% solution reduced UVR-induced hyperpigmentation by 43.5% (jumping to 63.3% when paired with aloesin). More recent clinical work backs it up too; a 2025 study on a 5% alpha-arbutin + 2% kojic acid cream found it comparable to triple combination prescription formulas but with lower recurrence for melasma. Typical usage in cosmetics serums land in the 1-2% range. It's a well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-photoreactive ingredient that also gives some antioxidant benefits too. This ingredient comes from the peel of the satsuma mandarin fruit native to Japan. Unlike other citrus ingredients, this one is not known to cause photosensitivity. This is because the citrus ingredients that cause sensitivity are high in furanocoumarins. When exposed to UV, furocoumarins bind to and destabilize your DNA, speeding up the rate of sunburn. Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract is unique in that the peel contains very low levels of furanocoumarins and tested products with this ingredient confirmed no detectable furanocoumarins. The peel is rich in antioxidants and lab studies show it can help brighten skin by inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin production. One study on the fermented version of this ingredient found it could help reduce UVA-induced collagen breakdown. Though it is worth noting that while results are promising, robust human clinical trials are still needed. This ingredient naturally contains limonene and other aromatic compounds that make it a perfuming ingredient. The official COSING database only lists this ingredient as having "Perfuming" properties at this time. The brightening, antioxidant, and skin conditioning benefits that brands market come from the research literature and from how formulators choose to use the ingredient. Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that: The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure. I