Donna Karan DONNA BELLA Instant Brightening Cream
Works for
MoisturizingDimethicone, Cetearyl alcohol + 9 moreWorks
“Ultra pigmented for 24 hours of intense colour and hydration”
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
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. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
sodium hyaluronate, butylene glycol.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, cetearyl alcohol.
Anti-agingNot advertised by the brand · Retinol, Tocopherol + 1 moreWorks well
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains retinol.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
ExfoliationNot advertised by the brand · RetinolWorks 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: retinol.
Evens skin toneNot advertised by the brand · Retinol, Ascorbic acidWorks well
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: retinol.
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-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · Retinol, Hydrolyzed myrtus communis leaf extract + 2 moreWorks well
This product contains antioxidants (retinol) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
Anti-blemishNot advertised by the brand · RetinolWorks well
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: retinol. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy12 flagged ingredientsMedium risk
Comedogenic2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale2 flagged
User reviews
Be the first — your take helps the next person decide.
Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate~5–6.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product consistency while softening the upper layer of the skin
More about Pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoateDimethicone~4.6–5.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconePpg-15 stearyl ether~3.6–4.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Help soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product consistency
More about Ppg-15 stearyl etherStearyl alcohol~2.8–3.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin
More about Stearyl alcoholCetearyl alcohol~2.4–2.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
More about Cetearyl alcoholButylene glycol~2.1–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolIsohexadecane~2–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Improves the texture of the product and helps soften the skin. Helps oil and water mix together and can be used as a cleansing agent
More about IsohexadecaneCeteareth-20~1.7–2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
Helps oil and water mix together. Has some emollient properties
More about Ceteareth-20Tocopherol~1–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolGold~0.7–1.05%
Retinol~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- High
Two steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinol is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. It can, however, be quite irritating
More about RetinolBht~0.5–0.75%
Hydrolyzed myrtus communis leaf extract~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- High
Ascorbic acid~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- High
The most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of aging
More about Ascorbic acidTrisiloxane~0.5–0.75%
Dimethicone crosspolymer~0.5–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product texture. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and might be able to prevent moisture loss from its surface
More about Dimethicone crosspolymerCaprylyl glycol~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolSodium hyaluronate~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronatePolysorbate 20~0.4–0.65%
Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Increases thickness of a product. Texture enhancer for oil-in-water emulsions
More about Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymerPolyacrylamide~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to improve product texture and help oil and water mix together
More about PolyacrylamidePolyethylene~0.45–0.65%
C13-14 isoparaffin~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin, dissolve other ingredients and create a thicker product consistency
More about C13-14 isoparaffinPtfe~0.25–0.5%
Disodium edta~0.2–0.35%
Laureth-7~0.2–0.35%
Sodium hydroxide~0.15–0.25%
Phenoxyethanol~0.1–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolChlorphenesin~0.05–0.1%
Ingredient list view
Water, Pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Unknown, Ppg-15 stearyl ether, Stearyl alcohol, Cetearyl alcohol, Butylene glycol, Isohexadecane, Ceteareth-20, Tocopherol, Gold, Retinol, Bht, Hydrolyzed myrtus communis leaf extract, Ascorbic acid, Trisiloxane, Dimethicone crosspolymer, Caprylyl glycol, Sodium hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, Polyacrylamide, Polyethylene, C13-14 isoparaffin, Ptfe, Disodium edta, Laureth-7, Sodium hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Compare prices
Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.
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.
| Donna KaranDONNA BELLA Instant Brightening CreamYOUR PRODUCT | Reform SkincareEveryday Moisturiser | pureclinicaTriple Strength Vitamin C, E & Ferulic Acid Serum | iS ClinicalPro-Heal Serum Advance Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 85% | 79% | 78% |
| Price | — | — | $29.99 | $127.86 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 2 of 5 | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Key difference | — | Ferulic Acid | Salicylic Acid | Arbutin |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | Contains drying alcohol |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: MATTER OF FACT WRINKLE + TEXTURE CONCENTRATE | MATTER OF FACT SkincareDermedicine Plant-Based Citrus Stem Cell Gel
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 15 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Safety Assessment of Pentaerythrityl Tetraesters as Used in Cosmeticsjournals.sagepub.com
- 2
- 3Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 4
- 5Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6Vitamin E and Skin Healthlpi.oregonstate.edu
Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.