Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Read our full disclosure policy.

Platinum Skincare
Fade Bright Lightening

Versus

Dr Sam’s
Flawless Nightly 2% Retinoid Serum

Product category and function

Fade Bright Lightening

Flawless Nightly 2% Retinoid Serum

Retinoid Serums/Creams	Retinoid Serums/Creams
----	----

Ingredient highlights

Fade Bright Lightening

Flawless Nightly 2% Retinoid Serum

Ingredient info	Ingredient info
Alcohol-free Paraben-free SLS-free Mica-free Fragrance-free cruelty-free	Alcohol-free Paraben-free SLS-free Mica-free Fragrance-free cruelty-free

Full ingredient list

Fade Bright Lightening

Flawless Nightly 2% Retinoid Serum

No. of common ingredients = 0
Distilled water, squalane, sd alcohol 40-b, alpha arbutin, propylene glycol, kojic acid, glutathione, azelaic acid, ethoxydiglycol, glycerine, cetyl alcohol, dimethyl isosorbide, niacinamide, resveratrol, butylene glycol, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, glyceryl stearate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin. 9	Aqua (water), niacinamide, polyglycerin-6, azelaic acid, butylene glycol, dicaprylyl carbonate, glycerin, ethoxydiglycol, cetearyl alcohol, dimethyl isosorbide, bakuchiol, tapioca starch, benzyl alcohol, betaine, sodium stearoyl glutamate, xanthan gum, phenoxyethanol, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, allantoin, disodium edta, dehydroacetic acid, polymethylsilsesquioxane

No. of common ingredients = 0

Total Number of ingredients = 22

Distilled water, squalane, sd alcohol 40-b, alpha arbutin, propylene glycol, kojic acid, glutathione, azelaic acid, ethoxydiglycol, glycerine, cetyl alcohol, dimethyl isosorbide, niacinamide, resveratrol, butylene glycol, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, glyceryl stearate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin.

Aqua (water), niacinamide, polyglycerin-6, azelaic acid, butylene glycol, dicaprylyl carbonate, glycerin, ethoxydiglycol, cetearyl alcohol, dimethyl isosorbide, bakuchiol, tapioca starch, benzyl alcohol, betaine, sodium stearoyl glutamate, xanthan gum, phenoxyethanol, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, allantoin, disodium edta, dehydroacetic acid, polymethylsilsesquioxane

Notable ingredients

Fade Bright Lightening

Flawless Nightly 2% Retinoid Serum

Anti-acne: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid

Soothing: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid

Skin brightening: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid

Anti-acne: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid

Soothing: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid, Allantoin

Skin brightening: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid

Load all

Ingredients with their functions

Fade Bright Lightening

Flawless Nightly 2% Retinoid Serum

Distilled water

Also-called: Aqua, Aqua/Water, Water/Aqua/Eau, Aqua/Water/Eau | Function: Skin conditioning, Solvent

Water serves as a fundamental component in skincare products, often listed as the first ingredient, which means it's the most abundant. It acts as a solvent, helping to dissolve other ingredients and facilitate the application and absorption of products.

Squalane

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Sd alcohol 40-b

Function: Viscosity controlling, Astringent, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Alpha arbutin

Also-called: Alpha arbutin | Function: Skin conditioning, Antioxidant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Propylene glycol

Function: Viscosity controlling, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Kojic acid

Function: Antioxidant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Glutathione

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Azelaic acid

Function: Anti-acne, Soothing, Buffering, Skin brightening, Antioxidant

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid found in fungi and certain grains. It offers several benefits for the skin, including reducing inflammation, decreasing redness, killing acne-causing bacteria, fading dark spots, improving skin texture, protecting against free radicals, and reducing sensitivity over time. It can be easily incorporated into skincare routines and works well with other ingredients.

For acne, azelaic acid prevents the thickening of the top layer of dead skin cells, which can clog pores and lead to breakouts. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective for treating inflammatory acne.

Ethoxydiglycol

Function: Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Glycerine

Also-called: Glycerol | Function: Skin-identical ingredient, Viscosity controlling, Skin protecting, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Cetyl alcohol

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Viscosity controlling, Surfactant/Cleansing, Skin conditioning, Emulsion stabilizing

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Dimethyl isosorbide

Function: Viscosity controlling, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Niacinamide

Also-called: Nicotinamide, Vitamin B3 | Function: Anti-acne, Soothing, Skin brightening, Cell-signaling ingredient

Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a potent skincare ingredient renowned for its wide-ranging benefits.

It helps to strengthen the skin's barrier function, improve skin texture, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It's also effective in managing acne and reducing redness and inflammation.

Furthermore, it inhibits melanin production, thereby assisting in fading hyperpigmentation and evening out skin tone. Safe for almost all skin types, niacinamide is a versatile ingredient found in various skincare products.

Resveratrol

Function: Skin protecting, Antioxidant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Butylene glycol

Function: Viscosity controlling, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate

Also-called: Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate | Function: Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Glyceryl stearate

Also-called: Glycerol monostearate, GMS | Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Surfactant/Cleansing, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Caprylic/capric triglyceride

Also-called: Caprylic Capric Triglyceride | Function: Occlusive/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Hydroxypinacolone retinoate

Also-called: Granactive Retinoid | Function: Skin conditioning, Cell-signaling ingredient

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer

Function: Viscosity controlling

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Phenoxyethanol

Function: Preservative, Anti-microbial

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Ethylhexylglycerin.

Function: Skin conditioning, Preservative, Deodorant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Aqua (water)

Also-called: Aqua, Aqua/Water, Water/Aqua/Eau, Aqua/Water/Eau | Function: Skin conditioning, Solvent

Niacinamide

Also-called: Nicotinamide, Vitamin B3 | Function: Anti-acne, Soothing, Skin brightening, Cell-signaling ingredient

Polyglycerin-6

Function: Humectant/Moisturizer

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Azelaic acid

Function: Anti-acne, Soothing, Buffering, Skin brightening, Antioxidant

Butylene glycol

Function: Viscosity controlling, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Dicaprylyl carbonate

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Glycerin

Also-called: Glycerol | Function: Skin-identical ingredient, Viscosity controlling, Skin protecting, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Ethoxydiglycol

Function: Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Cetearyl alcohol

Also-called: Cetostearyl alcohol, cetylstearyl alcohol | Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Viscosity controlling, Surfactant/Cleansing, Skin conditioning, Emulsion stabilizing

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Dimethyl isosorbide

Function: Viscosity controlling, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Bakuchiol

Also-called: Sytenol A, Phyto Retinol | Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning, Antioxidant, Cell-signaling ingredient, Anti-microbial

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Tapioca starch

Function: Viscosity controlling

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Benzyl alcohol

Function: Viscosity controlling, Preservative, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Betaine

Function: Viscosity controlling, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Sodium stearoyl glutamate

Function: Surfactant/Cleansing, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Xanthan gum

Function: Viscosity controlling, Surfactant/Cleansing, Skin conditioning, Gel forming, Emulsion stabilizing

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Phenoxyethanol

Function: Preservative, Anti-microbial

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Hydroxypinacolone retinoate

Also-called: Granactive Retinoid | Function: Skin conditioning, Cell-signaling ingredient

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Allantoin

Function: Skin protecting, Soothing, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Disodium edta

Also-called: Edta Disodium, Edetate Disodium | Function: Viscosity controlling, Chelating

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Dehydroacetic acid

Also-called: Geogard 111A | Function: Preservative

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Load all

Price range

Fade Bright Lightening

Flawless Nightly 2% Retinoid Serum

$20 to $50

$50 to $100

Where to buy

Fade Bright Lightening

Flawless Nightly 2% Retinoid Serum

Near dupes

Fade Bright Lightening

Flawless Nightly 2% Retinoid Serum

Top alternatives are:

Urban Skin Rx Retinol Rapid Repair & Dark Spot Treatment

Sesderma Retisil Intensive Cream

Pura D'or Luminous PM Face Cream

Top alternatives are:

Platinum Skincare Fade Bright Lightening

Dr. Ceuracle Vegan Niacin & Rice Ampoule

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

See all the alternatives

Use the comparison tool to compare more products

Skincare Tools

Platinum Skincare Fade Bright Lightening Versus Dr Sam’s Flawless Nightly 2% Retinoid Serum

Product category and function

Ingredient highlights

Full ingredient list

Notable ingredients

Ingredients with their functions

Price range

Where to buy

Near dupes

Use the comparison tool to compare more products

Platinum Skincare
Fade Bright Lightening

Versus

Dr Sam’s
Flawless Nightly 2% Retinoid Serum