Be Minimalist Alpha Arbutin 02% Face Serum
Works for
Evens skin toneAlpha-arbutin, Lactic acid + 1 moreWorks well
“A safe and powerful skin-brightening product, Minimalist Alpha Arbutin 02% helps even skin tone and reduce sun tanning after UV exposure for a clear and radiant complexion in just five weeks.”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: alpha-arbutin, lactic 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: ferulic acid.
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-blemishNo ingredient credited for this claimNot delivered
“This serum with alpha arbutin effectively reduces dark spots and blemishes, promoting a brighter and more even complexion.”
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Ferulic acidWorks well
This product contains antioxidants (ferulic 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).
ExfoliationSide benefit · Lactic acidWorks 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.
MoisturizingSide benefit · Lactic acid, Sodium hyaluronate + 2 moreWorks
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": lactic acid, sodium hyaluronate.
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).
Anti-agingSide benefit · Lactic acid, Ferulic acidMay help
This product contains ferulic acid, lactic acid. These ingredients 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.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy9 flagged ingredientsLow risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Alpha-arbutin~23–34%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Might help reduce hyperpigmentation when used regularly over a long period of time. Is more effective than beta-arbutin
More about Alpha-arbutinWater~12–18%
Dimethyl isosorbide~5.1–7.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to dissolve other ingredients in a product and can enhance their ability to penetrate the skin
More about Dimethyl isosorbideEthoxydiglycol~3–4.4%
Alpha-arbutin~2.6–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Might help reduce hyperpigmentation when used regularly over a long period of time. Is more effective than beta-arbutin
More about Alpha-arbutinLactic acid~1.7–2.5%
- 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 acidPentylene glycol~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
More about Pentylene glycolFerulic acid~1.1–1.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A potent anti-oxidant that has been shown to be effective in neutralizing free radicals in skin. There seem to have a synergetic effect of ferulic acid, vitamin E and C, meaning that when the ingredients are used together, they enhance each other's ability protect the skin against free radicals. Ferulic acid also helps to stabilize other ingredients - including vitamins C and E. It can help to even out the skin tone. Ferulic acid is approved for use as a sunscreen ingredient in Japan in concentrations up to 10%
More about Ferulic acidSodium hyaluronate~0.95–1.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronate4-butylresorcinol~0.85–1.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Hydroxyethylcellulose~0.55–1.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures
More about HydroxyethylcelluloseTriethanolamine~0.45–1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to adjust pH of the product and can help improve the product's smell
More about TriethanolaminePeg/ppg-17/6 copolymer~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Isoceteth-20~0.3–0.75%
Xanthan gum~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumLecithin~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used mostly for creating emulsions - helping oil and water mix together. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about LecithinSclerotium gum~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create gel-like formulas and stabilize emulsions
More about Sclerotium gumPullulan~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
Creates a thin drying film on the skin resulting in a short-term tightening effect
More about PullulanPhenoxyethanol~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolEthylhexylglycerin~0.05–0.15%
Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate~0.01–0.05%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to improve stability of the formulation
More about Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinateIngredient list view
Alpha-arbutin, Water, Dimethyl isosorbide, Ethoxydiglycol, Alpha-arbutin, Lactic acid, Pentylene glycol, Ferulic acid, Sodium hyaluronate, 4-butylresorcinol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Triethanolamine, Peg/ppg-17/6 copolymer, Isoceteth-20, Xanthan gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium gum, Pullulan, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate
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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.
| Be MinimalistAlpha Arbutin 02% Face SerumYOUR PRODUCT | skinmadeVitamin C E + Alpha Arbutin serum | Urban Skin RxHydraFirm + Brightening Serum | frank bodyCollagen Boost Serum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 51% | 50% | 50% |
| Price | — | — | — | $19.67 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Key difference | — | Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate | Niacinamide | Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate |
| Irritancy | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Peace Out Dark Spots SerumStandard Beauty Pigmentation Buster Serum: Vitamin C, Alpha Arbutin & Ferulic Acid
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 9 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Epidermal and dermal effects of topical lactic acidncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skinpdfs.semanticscholar.org
- 4
- 5
- 6
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