Admire My Skin Ultra Potent Brightening Serum
Works for
Evens skin toneAzelaic acid, Lactic acid + 4 moreWorks well
“One of the most effective serums for helping fade hyperpigmentation, dark spots and Melasma.”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: azelaic acid, kojic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually can help even out the skin tone: hexylresorcinol.
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.
Anti-blemishSide benefit · Azelaic acid, Salicylic acidWorks well
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: azelaic acid, salicylic acid. These ingredients is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
ExfoliationSide benefit · Azelaic acid, Lactic acid + 1 moreWorks well
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: lactic acid, salicylic acid.
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Azelaic acid, Kojic acid + 2 moreWorks well
This product contains antioxidants (azelaic acid, kojic acid) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
The following ingredients - hexylresorcinol also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.
Anti-agingSide benefit · Lactic acid, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acidMay help
This product contains lactic acid. This ingredient might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.
MoisturizingSide benefit · Lactic acid, Propylene glycolWorks
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": lactic acid, propylene glycol.
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).
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy2 strong irritants: Alcohol denat., Hamamelis virginiana extractMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Propylene glycol~23–35%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
More about Propylene glycolWater~13–19%
Azelaic acid~5.5–8.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is produced by a yeast that lives on normal human skin. It is used in medicine as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. It has a mild exfoliating effect. It can also help reduce hyperpigmentation, helps calm down inflammation and can help neutralize free radicals
More about Azelaic acidAlcohol denat.~3.6–5.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products
More about Alcohol denat.Hamamelis virginiana extract~2.6–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
More about Hamamelis virginiana extractLactic acid~1.8–2.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
More about Lactic acidKojic acid~1.3–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and neutralize free radicals. Can be irritating
More about Kojic acidSalicylic acid~0.5–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
More about Salicylic acidSodium hydroxide~0.85–1.3%
Acetyl glycyl beta-alanine~0.5–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Hexylresorcinol~0.3–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Might be helpful in reducing hyperpigmentation and neutralizing free radicals in skin
More about HexylresorcinolHydroxypropyl methylcellulose~0.3–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the formulation
More about Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Can help neutralize free radicals and help reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
More about 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acidSodium sulfite~0.1–0.2%
Sodium metabisulfite~0.05–0.2%
Ingredient list view
Propylene glycol, Water, Azelaic acid, Alcohol denat., Hamamelis virginiana extract, Lactic acid, Kojic acid, Salicylic acid, Sodium hydroxide, Acetyl glycyl beta-alanine, Hexylresorcinol, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, Sodium sulfite, Sodium metabisulfite
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| Admire My SkinUltra Potent Brightening SerumYOUR PRODUCT | The Purest SolutionsIntensive Hydration Serum Hyaluronic Acid %2 + B5 | Honest BeautyIn The Clear Acne Serum | Paula's choiceCLEAR DAILY SKIN-CLEARING TREATMENT AZELAIC ACID + BHA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 87% | 81% | 80% |
| Price | $17.99 | — | — | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 0 of 6 | 2 of 6 | 2 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Panthenol | Niacinamide | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Dr Sam's Flawless Neutralising GelSUNDAY RILEY Peacekeeper Azaleic and Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 16 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycolonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 4
- 5
- 6
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