Derived from the leaves of the bearberry plant, this 2% Alpha Arbutin serum targets the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots, helping to brighten the skin and improve overall skin tone.

Source: The Inkey list

This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: alpha-arbutin

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.

alpha-arbutin 1.7% - 2.6%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

Might help reduce hyperpigmentation when used regularly over a long period of time. Is more effective than beta-arbutin

Moisturizing

What does the product description say?

Added Squalane helps to increase skin hydration and smoothness.

Source: The Inkey list

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: glycerin, 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: caprylic/capric triglyceride, squalane.

glycine soja sterols 0.05% - 0.2%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

An emollient that helps soften the skin

squalane 0.5% - 1.1%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.

caprylic/capric triglyceride 1.1% - 1.7%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin

Honesty check

Buy now

Can it cause trouble?

Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

glycerin 2.3% - 3.4%

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

alpha-arbutin 1.7% - 2.6%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Evens skin tone

Might help reduce hyperpigmentation when used regularly over a long period of time. Is more effective than beta-arbutin

Search top rated products by actives

Potential irritants

alpha-arbutin 1.7% - 2.6%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Evens skin tone

Might help reduce hyperpigmentation when used regularly over a long period of time. Is more effective than beta-arbutin

caprylic/capric triglyceride 1.1% - 1.7%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing

A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin

Comodogenic ingredients

glycine soja oil 0.2% - 0.75%

Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium

Works for: Moisturizing

A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.

All ingredients

water 40% - 60%

Irritation risk:

Plain old water

butylene glycol 4.8% - 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

propanediol 2.9% - 4.3%

Irritation risk:

Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin

Ingredient list view

Water, Butylene glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Alpha-arbutin, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Caprylyl glycol, Squalane, Phospholipids, Glycine soja oil, Carbomer, Polysorbate 60, Sodium phytate, Glycolipids, Sorbitan isostearate, Leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, Sodium hydroxide, Glycine soja sterols, Hyaluronic acid, Tocopherol

	The INKEY List CA - Alpha Arbutin	Beauty of Joseon - Glow Deep Serum Sponsored	Formulyst - Anti-Aging Concentrate	Skinbetter Science - Even Tone Correcting Serum Face	SOUL APOTHECARY - Alpha Arbutin PLUS Serum	Peace Out - Dark Spots Serum	Beauty of Joseon - Glow Deep Serum	Standard Beauty - Pigmentation Buster Serum: Vitamin C, Alpha Arbutin & Ferulic Acid	Collistar - Attivi Puri Vitamin C and Alpha-Arbutin Brightening Anti-Oxidant	Barefaced - Brightening Serum	skinmade - Vitamin C E + Alpha Arbutin serum	UBUNA - Brighten Maximum Glow Serum
Price
WIMJ similarity score		54%	60%	56%	56%	55%	54%	53%	53%	52%	52%	51%
Key ingredients	alpha-arbutin caprylic/capric triglyceride +4 more	Common: glycerin Other: panthenol arginine +6 more	Common: alpha-arbutin caprylic/capric triglyceride +2 more Other: tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 +10 more	Common: alpha-arbutin caprylic/capric triglyceride +1 more Other: ceramide ng linoleic acid +9 more	Common: alpha-arbutin glycerin Other: niacinamide hyaluronic acid +3 more	Common: alpha-arbutin squalane +1 more Other: niacinamide nonapeptide-1 +11 more	Common: glycerin Other: panthenol arginine +6 more	Common: alpha-arbutin Other: ascorbic acid ferulic acid +2 more	Common: alpha-arbutin glycerin Other: 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid	Common: alpha-arbutin glycerin Other: azelaic acid kojic acid +2 more	Common: alpha-arbutin glycerin Other: hexanoyl dipeptide-3 norleucine acetate 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid +8 more	Common: alpha-arbutin glycerin +3 more Other: ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate retinyl palmitate +4 more
Irritancy	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY MEDIUM
Potential Irritants	leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate Has skin benefit? polysorbate 60 Has skin benefit? +5 more	coptis japonica root extract Has skin benefit? glycine soja seed extract Has skin benefit? +6 more	caprylhydroxamic acid Has skin benefit? acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer Has skin benefit? +7 more	pancratium maritimum extract Has skin benefit? citric acid Has skin benefit? +8 more	1,2-hexanediol Has skin benefit? ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? +2 more	kojic acid Has skin benefit? glycolic acid Has skin benefit? +8 more	coptis japonica root extract Has skin benefit? glycine soja seed extract Has skin benefit? +6 more	ascorbic acid Has skin benefit? ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? +2 more	3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid Has skin benefit? citric acid Has skin benefit? +2 more	sodium bisulfite Has skin benefit? pullulan Has skin benefit? +9 more	3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid Has skin benefit? ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? +8 more	trisodium ascorbyl palmitate phosphate Has skin benefit? retinyl palmitate Has skin benefit? +8 more
All ingredients	water Has skin benefit? butylene glycol Has skin benefit? +21 more	oryza sativa bran water Has skin benefit? water Has skin benefit? +30 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +36 more	water Has skin benefit? c13-15 alkane Has skin benefit? +32 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +13 more	water Has skin benefit? propanediol Has skin benefit? +28 more	oryza sativa bran water Has skin benefit? water Has skin benefit? +30 more	propanediol Has skin benefit? ascorbic acid Has skin benefit? +7 more	water Has skin benefit? propanediol Has skin benefit? +8 more	water Has skin benefit? propanediol Has skin benefit? +25 more	water Has skin benefit? 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid Has skin benefit? +23 more	water Has skin benefit? squalane Has skin benefit? +25 more

PRODUCT REVIEW

The INKEY List CA Alpha Arbutin

Works for:

Can it cause trouble?

Key actives

Cheaper alternatives

What can the product work for?

Works for

Evens skin tone

What does the product description say?

Moisturizing

What does the product description say?

Honesty check

How honest is this product?

Buy now

US Retailers

CA Retailers

UK Retailers

AU Retailers

Can it cause trouble?

Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

Similar products & dupes

Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

All ingredients

Ingredient list view

Sources