PRODUCT REVIEW
Image skincare Iluma Intense Brightening Serum
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Product summary
What can the product work for?
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
Illuminate your skin with our botanical brightening serum that helps to reduce the appearance of pigmentation and dark spots while promoting clear, even skin tone.
azelaic acid
0.25% -
0.4%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
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
arbutin
0.2% -
0.35%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
MEDIUM
Beta-arbutin. Can help to reduce hyperpigmentation and has an anti-oxidant effect when used in high enough concentration. Is less effective compared to alpha-arbutin
hexylresorcinol
0.15% -
0.3%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
LOW
Might be helpful in reducing hyperpigmentation and neutralizing free radicals in skin
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Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
This serum is ideal for sensitive or irritated skin. Key benefits , Improves skin hydration. , Brightens the skin. , Reduces skin irritation.
corallina officinalis extract
0.2% -
0.4%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
Red algae extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might contain antioxidants
glycerin
4.1% -
5.1%
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
chlorella vulgaris extract
0.2% -
0.4%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High
Concentration: Effectiveness:
MEDIUM
A plant extract that can help to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
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Anti-blemish
azelaic acid
0.25% -
0.4%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
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
melia azadirachta leaf extract
0.15% -
0.25%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
LOW
A plant extract that has anti-bacterial properties. Can be used to preserve the product. Can be irritating
sodium ascorbyl phosphate
0.55% -
0.85%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
A stable derivative of vitamin C. It is oil-soluble which means it is more likely to penetrate the skin compared to the pure form of vitamin C (which is water-soluble), but it is less bio-available and is way less effective in stimulating collagen and reducing wrinkles compared to the pure form of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and its other derivatives (for example, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). At the same time, this vitamin C derivative has been shown in studies to be effective in reducing acne, blemishes and clogged pores. It is less irritating then the pure form of vitamin C
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Anti-aging
ascorbic acid
0.2% -
0.4%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
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
centella asiatica extract
0.45% -
0.65%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
A plant extract that has been shown to be able to reduce inflammation in skin, support restoration of skin barrier function, as well as support collagen production. Contains active compounds called centelloids: asiaticoside, madecasosside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It can be itself be irritating though.
camellia sinensis leaf extract
0.25% -
0.4%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
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Anti-oxidation
azelaic acid
0.25% -
0.4%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
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
hexylresorcinol
0.15% -
0.3%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
MEDIUM
Might be helpful in reducing hyperpigmentation and neutralizing free radicals in skin
arbutin
0.2% -
0.35%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
MEDIUM
Beta-arbutin. Can help to reduce hyperpigmentation and has an anti-oxidant effect when used in high enough concentration. Is less effective compared to alpha-arbutin
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Honesty check
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Evens skin tone | |
| Moisturizing |
Total Promises Fulfilled score:
87/100.
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Can it cause trouble?
- Overall product irritation risk
- Acne & comedogenic risk ingredients: 3
Potential irritants
propylene glycol
1.2% -
1.5%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
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Comodogenic ingredients
laminaria digitata extract
0.2% -
0.4%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High
Works for:
Moisturizing,
Anti-oxidation,
Anti-aging
Seaweed extract that helps the skin to attract water and make it more smooth for touch. Also shows promise of anti-aging properties, but good research is lacking at the moment
chlorella vulgaris extract
0.2% -
0.4%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High
Works for:
Moisturizing,
Anti-inflammatory,
Anti-oxidation
A plant extract that can help to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Show more
User reviews (0)
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| Irritancy | IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
HIGH
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
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LOW
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LOW
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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LOW
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Ingredients & concentrations
All ingredients
Key Actives
centella asiatica extract
0.45% -
0.65%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Reduces redness,
Reduces irritation,
Moisturizing,
Anti-inflammatory,
Anti-aging,
Anti-oxidation,
Anti-blemish
A plant extract that has been shown to be able to reduce inflammation in skin, support restoration of skin barrier function, as well as support collagen production. Contains active compounds called centelloids: asiaticoside, madecasosside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It can be itself be irritating though.
camellia sinensis leaf extract
0.25% -
0.4%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-oxidation,
Antibacterial,
Anti-aging,
Moisturizing,
Anti-blemish,
Evens skin tone
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
Show more
Potential irritants
propylene glycol
1.2% -
1.5%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
Show more
Comodogenic ingredients
laminaria digitata extract
0.2% -
0.4%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High
Works for:
Moisturizing,
Anti-oxidation,
Anti-aging
Seaweed extract that helps the skin to attract water and make it more smooth for touch. Also shows promise of anti-aging properties, but good research is lacking at the moment
chlorella vulgaris extract
0.2% -
0.4%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High
Works for:
Moisturizing,
Anti-inflammatory,
Anti-oxidation
A plant extract that can help to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Show more
All ingredients
butylene glycol
5.9% -
7.2%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing
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
glycerin
4.1% -
5.1%
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
Show more
Ingredient list view
Water, Butylene glycol, Glycerin, Peg-8/smdi copolymer, Sodium polystyrene sulfonate, Polysorbate 20, Citrus unshiu peel extract, Propylene glycol, Dimethicone peg-8 meadowfoamate, Peg-8 dimethicone, Sodium ascorbyl phosphate, Hydrogenated lecithin, Morus alba extract, Centella asiatica extract, Echinacea purpurea extract, Xanthan gum, Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Dipotassium glycyrrhizate, Disodium edta, Triethanolamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rumex occidentalis extract, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi leaf extract, Artemisia vulgaris extract, Laminaria digitata extract, Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract, Chlorella vulgaris extract, Ascorbic acid, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Azelaic acid, Sodium metabisulfite, Corallina officinalis extract, Anthemis nobilis flower extract, Salix alba extract, Peg-12 glyceryl dimyristate, Arbutin, Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract, Hexylresorcinol, Pueraria lobata root extract, Melia azadirachta leaf extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate
Sources
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitis
- Propylene Glycol
- Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycol
- Sodium ascorbyl phosphate shows in vitro and in vivo efficacy in the prevention and treatment of acne vulgaris
- Sodium ascorbyl phosphate in topical microemulsions
- Final report of the safety assessment of L-Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate, and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate as used in cosmetics
- Regulation of collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts by the sodium and magnesium salts of ascorbyl-2-phosphate
- Comparison of clinical efficacies of sodium ascorbyl phosphate, retinol and their combination in acne treatment
- Application of l-ascorbic acid and its derivatives (sodium ascorbyl phosphate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate) in topical cosmetic formulations: stability studies
- Sodium L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate 5% lotion for the treatment of acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial
- Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Titrated Extract of Centella asiatica in Phthalic Anhydride-Induced Allergic Dermatitis Animal Model
- Centella asiatica in cosmetology
- Triterpene Composition and Bioactivities of Centella asiatica
- Asiaticoside induction for cell-cycle progression, proliferation and collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts
- Assessment report on Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, herba
- Centella asiatica in Dermatology: An Overview
- The Effects of a Standardized Extract of Centella asiatica on Postlaser Resurfacing Wound Healing on the Face: A Split-Face, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- Contact dermatitis as an adverse reaction to some topically used European herbal medicinal products – Part 2: Echinacea purpurea–Lavandula angustifolia
- Ameliorating effect of dipotassium glycyrrhizinate on an IL-4- and IL-13-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin-equivalent model
- Final report on the safety assessment of Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Potassium Glycyrrhetinate, Disodium Succinoyl Glycyrrhetinate, Glyceryl Glycyrrhetinate, Glycyrrhetinyl Stearate, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Glycyrrhizic Acid, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium Glycyrrhizate, Trisodium Glycyrrhizate, Methyl Glycyrrhizate, and Potassium Glycyrrhizinate.
- Stability, transdermal penetration, and cutaneous effects of ascorbic acid and its derivatives
- Topical L-ascorbic acid: percutaneous absorption studies
- Emblica
- Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) extract promotes procollagen production and inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-1 in human skin fibroblasts
- Emblica Cascading Antioxidant: A Novel Natural Skin Care Ingredient
- Final report on the safety assessment of sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, ammonium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, ammonium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite and potassium metabisulfite
- Arbutin - Commentaty
- TOPICAL TREATMENT OF MELASMA
- Melia azedarach