Works for
Evens skin toneNiacinamide, Phenylethyl resorcinolWorks well
“If your freckles have ceased to be ‘cute’ and are more like brown patches than beauty spots, lighten up with Zelens’s Z Luminous Skin Brightening Serum – a powerful blend of melanin-managing ingredients, which helps to lessen existing dark spots while preventing the development of new ones, so your complexion quickly recovers its youthful clarity.”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: niacinamide
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: phenylethyl resorcinol.
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-agingNiacinamideWorks well
“Infused with a host of potent ingredients, including Hyaluronic Acid, Pearl and Niacinamide, the antioxidant-rich serum melts effortlessly into skin, targeting dark spots and discolouration to leave the complexion clearer, brighter and younger-looking.”
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains niacinamide.
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.
MoisturizingNiacinamide, Dimethicone + 6 moreWorks well
“Smoothing, hydrating and revitalising, this cocktail of radiance-boosting active ingredients – including cell-energising niacinamide to counteract pigmentation and blotchiness, zinc-glycine complex to reduce melanocyte proliferation and melanin production, and phytic acid, which exhibits a mild exfoliating action to accelerate the cell-renewal process – will quickly recapture your skin’s youthful lustre.”
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.
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, dimethicone.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: niacinamide
ExfoliationNo ingredient credited for this claimNot delivered
“Smoothing, hydrating and revitalising, this cocktail of radiance-boosting active ingredients – including cell-energising niacinamide to counteract pigmentation and blotchiness, zinc-glycine complex to reduce melanocyte proliferation and melanin production, and phytic acid, which exhibits a mild exfoliating action to accelerate the cell-renewal process – will quickly recapture your skin’s youthful lustre.”
This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.
Anti-blemishSide benefit · NiacinamideWorks well
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: niacinamide. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Benzophenone-3, Parfum + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Niacinamide~5.8–7.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
More about NiacinamideDimethicone~4.3–5.2%
- 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 DimethiconeCaprylic/capric triglyceride~3.2–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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
More about Caprylic/capric triglycerideHydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer~2.4–2.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A gelling agent that thickens the product consistency and leaves the skin with a velvety finish
More about Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymerCyclopentasiloxane~2–2.5%
- 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 CyclopentasiloxanePentylene glycol~1.7–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
More about Pentylene glycolSqualane~1.6–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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.
More about SqualanePhytic acid~1.2–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), but is mostly used to stabilize product formulations in cosmetics
More about Phytic acidPhenylethyl resorcinol~1–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
Might help reduce hyperpigmentation in skin and help neutralize free radicals
More about Phenylethyl resorcinolZinc glycinate~0.75–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Sodium hyaluronate~0.6–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronateTocopheryl acetate~0.6–0.9%
- 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 acetateBisabolol~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An active component of chamomile plant that historically has been used to calm down irritated skin. A recent study shows that bisabolol indeed can have some anti-inflammatory effect on skin, even though conclusive data is lacking. Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent and can be added to products for its aromatic properties
More about BisabololHydrolyzed pearl~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Silanetriol~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Silica~0.65–1%
Polysilicone-11~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that forms a light film on the skin surface helping to bind water and temporarily absorb oils creating a matt and powdery feel
More about Polysilicone-11Benzophenone-3~0.6–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- High
Same as oxybenzone. Protects in the UVB and short UVA range. In small concentrations, used to stabilize product formulation. Can be irritating. Is shown to be harmful to coral reefs - consider avoiding bathing in coral reef areas when wearing a product with this ingredient. It can penetrate the skin and get absorbed into bloodstream faster than other popular filters available in the US. The study that produced this finding did not address any potential health effects of the absorption
More about Benzophenone-3Polysorbate 60~0.4–0.6%
Sodium metabisulfite~0.1–0.2%
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Avobenzone. An organic, or so-called "chemical" UV filter. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Needs to be combined with other filters in a formulation to be stable.
More about Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethaneDisodium edta~0.25–0.45%
Phenoxyethanol~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolEthylhexylglycerin~0.2–0.4%
Sorbitan isostearate~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sorbitan isostearateDiethylhexyl syringylidenemalonate~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to stabilize the product formulation
More about Diethylhexyl syringylidenemalonateXanthan gum~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumSodium benzoate~0.1–0.25%
Parfum~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumLinalool~0.05–0.15%
Sodium hydroxide~0.05–0.15%
Ingredient list view
Water, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Pentylene glycol, Squalane, Phytic acid, Phenylethyl resorcinol, Zinc glycinate, Sodium hyaluronate, Tocopheryl acetate, Bisabolol, Hydrolyzed pearl, Silanetriol, Silica, Polysilicone-11, Benzophenone-3, Polysorbate 60, Sodium metabisulfite, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Disodium edta, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan isostearate, Diethylhexyl syringylidenemalonate, Xanthan gum, Sodium benzoate, Parfum, Linalool, Sodium hydroxide
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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.
| ZelensZ Luminous Brightening SerumYOUR PRODUCT | Thank You FarmerMiracle Age Repair Serum | Skin RocksThe Hyperpigmentation Serum | Revision SkincareAdvanced Pigment Corrector+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 95% | 95% | 94% |
| Price | — | $42.07 | — | $165.00 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 7 of 11 | 5 of 11 | 6 of 11 |
| Key difference | — | Adenosine | 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid | Acetyl Hexapeptide-1 |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: The Purest Solutions Youth Radiant Renewal Retinol SerumHelia-D Cell Concept Hydrating Serum For Normal/Combination Skin
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 13 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 5Cosmetic and dermatologic use of alpha hydroxy acidsonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 6
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