What's In My Jar

ACURE - Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum

ACURE Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum

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Efficacy100/100

medium

Works for:

based on ingredients and %

Evens skin tone
Moisturizing

Can it cause trouble?

Irritation risk: medium
Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0

Key actives

Hyaluronic acid22% - 33%Polyglutamic acid3.7% - 5.6%Alpha-arbutin2

See all ingredients

Price unavailable

Price as of Nov 1, 2026.

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Alternatives

The closest match we found

Alpha Arbutin PLUS Serum

SOUL APOTHECARY Alpha Arbutin PLUS Serum

Closest match65% match

View all alternatives

Works for

Evens skin tone
Moisturizing

Evens skin tone

What does the product description say?

2% alpha arbutin combines with hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid and elderberry to target hyperpigmentation and improve skin's appearance Improves the look of skin tone and visibly brightens Offers potent antioxidant protection Fends off free radicals Offers a dewy skin finish

Source: Ulta

This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: alpha-arbutin

Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.

Alpha-arbutin2%

Irritation risk:Concentration:Effectiveness:HIGH

Might help reduce hyperpigmentation when used regularly over a long period of time. Is more effective than beta-arbutin

Moisturizing

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, hyaluronic acid.

When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).

Glycerin1% - 1.5%

Irritation risk:Concentration:Effectiveness:HIGH

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

Hyaluronic acid22% - 33%

Irritation risk:Concentration:Effectiveness:HIGH

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. Naturally present in skin. Typically has large molecule size unless advertised otherwise on the product label. Helps support skin's barrier function and may help to reduce inflammation

Polyglutamic acid3.7% - 5.6%

Irritation risk:Concentration:Effectiveness:HIGH

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin.

Sodium hyaluronate1.5% - 2.3%

Irritation risk:Concentration:Effectiveness:HIGH

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin

Aloe barbadensis leaf juice2.3% - 3.4%

Irritation risk:Concentration:Effectiveness:LOW

Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin

Key Actives

Hyaluronic acid22% - 33%

Irritation risk:

Works for:Moisturizing, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-aging

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. Naturally present in skin. Typically has large molecule size unless advertised otherwise on the product label. Helps support skin's barrier function and may help to reduce inflammation

Polyglutamic acid3.7% - 5.6%

Irritation risk:

Works for:Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin.

Alpha-arbutin2%

Irritation risk:

Works for:Evens skin tone

Might help reduce hyperpigmentation when used regularly over a long period of time. Is more effective than beta-arbutin

Sodium hyaluronate1.5% - 2.3%

Irritation risk:

Works for:Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin

Glycerin1% - 1.5%

Irritation risk:

Works for:Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

Polyglutamic acid0.2% - 0.75%

Irritation risk:

Works for:Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin.

Potential irritants

Sodium anisate0.01% - 0.05%

Irritation risk:

Used as a fragrance

Alpha-arbutin2%

Irritation risk:

Might help reduce hyperpigmentation when used regularly over a long period of time. Is more effective than beta-arbutin

Aloe barbadensis leaf juice2.3% - 3.4%

Irritation risk:

Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin

Sodium levulinate0.35% - 0.8%

Irritation risk:

A preservative

Ethylhexylglycerin0.01% - 0.05%

Irritation risk:

A preservative

Citric acid0.01% - 0.1%

Irritation risk:

Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH

Comedogenic ingredients

We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product

All ingredients

Hyaluronic acid22% - 33%

Irritation risk:

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. Naturally present in skin. Typically has large molecule size unless advertised otherwise on the product label. Helps support skin's barrier function and may help to reduce inflammation

Polyglutamic acid3.7% - 5.6%

Irritation risk:

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin.

Sambucus nigra extract4.1% - 6.1%

Irritation risk:

Water3.1% - 4.7%

Irritation risk:

Plain old water

Alpha-arbutin2%

Irritation risk:

Might help reduce hyperpigmentation when used regularly over a long period of time. Is more effective than beta-arbutin

Aloe barbadensis leaf juice2.3% - 3.4%

Irritation risk:

Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin

Sodium hyaluronate1.5% - 2.3%

Irritation risk:

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin

Sambucus nigra fruit juice1.1% - 1.6%

Irritation risk:

Glycerin1% - 1.5%

Irritation risk:

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

Sclerotium gum0.55% - 1.3%

Irritation risk:

Used to create gel-like formulas and stabilize emulsions

Xanthan gum0.4% - 0.9%

Irritation risk:

Used to create a thicker product consistency

Sodium levulinate0.35% - 0.8%

Irritation risk:

A preservative

Polyglutamic acid0.2% - 0.75%

Irritation risk:

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin.

Hydroxyethylcellulose0.15% - 0.7%

Irritation risk:

Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures

Propanediol0.05% - 0.3%

Irritation risk:

Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin

Sodium phytate0.05% - 0.1%

Irritation risk:

Used to stabilize product formulations

Ethylhexylglycerin0.01% - 0.05%

Irritation risk:

A preservative

Sodium anisate0.01% - 0.05%

Irritation risk:

Used as a fragrance

Citric acid0.01% - 0.1%

Irritation risk:

Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH

Ingredient list view

Hyaluronic acid, Polyglutamic acid, Sambucus nigra extract, Water, Alpha-arbutin, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Sodium hyaluronate, Sambucus nigra fruit juice, Glycerin, Sclerotium gum, Xanthan gum, Sodium levulinate, Polyglutamic acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propanediol, Sodium phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium anisate, Citric acid

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