Meaningful Beauty Dark Spot Correcting Treatment
Works for
Evens skin toneHydroquinone, Glycolic acid + 1 moreWorks well
“Dark Spot Correcting Treatment”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: hydroquinone.
In addition, this product contains glycolic acid. This ingredient (ingredients) might help reduce hyperpigmentation, but the effect, if any, is likely to be small.
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: retinyl palmitate.
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-agingSide benefit · Glycolic acid, Retinyl palmitate + 1 moreWorks well
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains glycolic acid.
These ingredients in the product can also be helpful, even though there is less evidence for their effectiveness: retinyl palmitate.
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.
ExfoliationSide benefit · Glycolic acid, Retinyl palmitateWorks 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: glycolic acid.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy4 strong irritants: Hydroquinone, Retinyl palmitate + 2 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
Be the first — your take helps the next person decide.
Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Hydroquinone2%
- Irritation risk
- High
A potent anti-pigmentation active. It can have serious side-effects though and ideally is used under supervision of a doctor. It should not be used over a long period of time (over a year).
More about HydroquinoneWater~45–55%
Octyldodecanol~6.3–7.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps to soften the skin and create a pleasant product texture and stabilize the formulation
More about OctyldodecanolCyclopentasiloxane~5.8–7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin
More about CyclopentasiloxaneHexylene glycol~3.6–4.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps create a more spreadable product texture
More about Hexylene glycolPolyquaternium-37~3.3–4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product finish
More about Polyquaternium-37Glycolic acid~2.2–2.7%
- Irritation risk
- High
An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid
More about Glycolic acidCyclohexasiloxane~1.8–2.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that serves as an emollient. Helps create a nice non-greasy feels
More about CyclohexasiloxaneCetearyl alcohol~1.6–2%
- 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 alcoholPropylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate~1.3–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Ascorbyl palmitate~1.1–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable and can penetrate the skin better than L-Ascorbic acid. It is effective in protecting the skin from free radicals, as well as evening the skin tone, but is less effective in stimulating collagen production compared to L-Ascorbic acid.
More about Ascorbyl palmitateRetinyl palmitate~0.75–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
More about Retinyl palmitateTocopheryl acetate~0.65–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetatePropylene glycol~0.55–0.85%
- 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 glycolGlyceryl dilaurate~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Glyceryl dilauratePpg-1 trideceth-6~0.5–0.75%
Glyceryl stearate~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearatePeg-100 stearate~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture
More about Peg-100 stearatePeg-40 stearate~0.35–0.65%
Sodium sulfite~0.1–0.2%
Sodium metabisulfite~0.1–0.2%
Sodium hydroxide~0.2–0.4%
Disodium edta~0.15–0.3%
Diazolidinyl urea~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- High
A preservative. Works by releasing formaldehyde. Can be irritating
More about Diazolidinyl ureaMethylparaben~0.15–0.25%
Propylparaben~0.1–0.2%
Parfum~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumIngredient list view
Hydroquinone, Water, Octyldodecanol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hexylene glycol, Polyquaternium-37, Glycolic acid, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl alcohol, Propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, Ascorbyl palmitate, Retinyl palmitate, Tocopheryl acetate, Propylene glycol, Glyceryl dilaurate, Ppg-1 trideceth-6, Glyceryl stearate, Peg-100 stearate, Peg-40 stearate, Sodium sulfite, Sodium metabisulfite, Sodium hydroxide, Disodium edta, Diazolidinyl urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Parfum
Compare prices
Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.
Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.
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.
| Meaningful BeautyDark Spot Correcting TreatmentYOUR PRODUCT | ZO Skin HealthPigment Control Crème 4% HQ - RX | Porcelain SkinWhitening Serum | Laboratoire ACMDuolys.Hyal Intensive Anti-Ageing Serum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 57% | 55% | 42% |
| Price | $75.40 | — | — | $37.45−$37.95 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 2 of 4 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 4 |
| Key difference | — | Vitamin C | Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate | Vitamin C |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Dollar Shave Club Rescue SerumU Beauty The Barrier Bioactive Treatment
Product summary
"Meaningful Beauty - Dark Spot Correcting Treatment" is effective for: Anti-aging, Exfoliation and Evens skin tone
Ingredient callouts
- This product contains acids (glycolic acid 2.20% - 2.70%). Their concentration is low, and they will not have a strong exfoliating effect. Instead, they work to support the skin natural acid mantle and to attract water (as humectants).
- This product includes a form of Retinoids (vitamin A) - retinyl palmitate 0.75% - 1.15%, but this type of vitamin A is not very effective. It could in theory help with fine lines and wrinkles, but the effect is most likely minimal.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 7 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Glycolic acid peel therapy – a current reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3
- 4Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycolonlinelibrary.wiley.com
Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.