Dupes for Alpha Skin Care Dual Action Skin Lightener

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1. ↑ Hydroquinone. a strong inhibitor of melanin production

2. ↑ solvents ( Water ) solvent

3. ↑ Ceramide Eop ( 1 ) Ceramides can help restore the skin’s barrier system; improves texture, reduces topical irritation, restores moisture

4. ↑ Glycolic Acid. Proven to reduce fine lines & wrinkles; hyperpigmentation; smooths, exfoliates & thickens skin; increases skin hydration & elasticity; good melasma treatment

5. ↑ Propylene Glycol. solvent; humectant; gives a product “slip”; helps “carry” other ingredients into the skin; also enhances the efficacy of preservatives; controls viscosity

6. ↑ Mineral Oil. An oil with occlusive properties (baby oil), paraffin, by itself, is a waxy petroleum-based thickener

7. ↑ glyceryl stearate SE ( Glyceryl Stearate ) self-emulsifying emollient & thickening agent, the higher up an ingredient list it is, the thicker the formula

8. ↑ fatty alcohols ( Cetyl Alcohol ) coconut-derived emollient moisturizer, emulsifies & stabilizes emulsions; thickeners; carrying agents; slightly waxy texture

9. ↑ ceresin ( Ozokerite ) A hard paraffin wax used with or instead of beeswax. Thickens/stabilizes the product; generally, the more thickening agents used in formulating a cream, for example, may enhance its stability, but can also cause difficulty in spreading. This wax can aggravate some skin types.

10. ↑ Laureth-. surfactant: the higher the number, the more viscosity of the ingredient increases until it becomes a white waxy solid. Some research shows that the lower the value, the higher the risk of irritation.

11. ↑ Vitamin E ( Tocopherol ) Antioxidant emollient & occlusive moisturizer with proven effects: protects the epidermis from early stages of ultraviolet light damage; increases the efficacy of active sunscreen ingredients; reduces the formation of free radicals upon skin exposure to UVA rays and other sources of skin stress; reduces transepidermal water loss from skin and strengthens the skin’s barrier function; protects the skin barrier’s oil (lipid) balance during the cleansing process; reduces the severity of sunburn; preservative (if at the end of the list)

12. ↑ silicone ( Dimethicone ) gives skin a nice “slip”, film-formers; can “carry” other active ingredients; may clog pores for some (depending on the silicones properties); some are water-soluble, some not; anti-foaming; skin protectant

13. ↑ thickener ( Xanthan Gum ) thickens/stabilizes the product; generally, the more thickening agents used in formulating a cream, for example, may enhance its stability, but can also cause difficulty in spreading.

14. ↑ preservatives ( Sorbic Acid ) Used as a preservative or enhances the efficacy of preservatives

15. ↑ Sodium Metabisulfite. disinfectant, antioxidant (for the formula) and preservative.

16. ↑ Urea. Humectant moisturizer; improves penetration of other ingredients; minimizes water loss; speeds up skin renewal; adjusts pH of a product. If you’re in the UK and looking for urea products, check the ingredient list for “carbamide” instead. It’s the same thing.

17. ↑ Fragrance. Fragrance in skin care is like spraying perfume on your face. Smells nice, but potentially irritating and damaging to your skin’s acid mantle. Especially if these ingredients are high up on the ingredient list.