MA
AGreat
Brightening Serum
The Barefaced Brightening Serum is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 27 ingredients (23 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and sensitive skin.
The Barefaced Brightening Serum is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 27 ingredients (23 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and sensitive skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
Dry Skin
3/5
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
2/0
Sensitive Skin
6/6
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
6
7
|
B
|
Kojic Acid
(Antioxidant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Pterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract
(Hair Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Alpha-Arbutin
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
glycyrrhiza glabra root extract
(Bleaching, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Smoothing, Soothing) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Azelaic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
|
|
3
|
|
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
|
1
|
|
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
(Antidandruff Agent, Antimicrobial) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Pullulan
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Binding) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sclerotium Gum
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
2
3
|
|
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
|
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
(Chelating Agent) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Sodium Bisulfite
(Antioxidant, Hair Waving Or Straightening, Reducing, Preservative) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
2
|
A
|
Silica
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
4
|
A
|
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
3
|
A
|
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
|
|
|
|
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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