Formula · 7.7

Brand · 7.7

AXIS-Y · niacinamide and plant extracts · South Korea

AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum

AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum
7.7

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.7Actives with strong evidence: 1 of 5
  • Active concentration1.0Actives sit above the 1 % line — by list order a working concentration is 94 % likely
  • Completeness for the purpose0.5For “dark spots and uneven tone” — 54 %; retinoid; glycolic acid; could be added without conflict: retinoid, glycolic acid; below threshold: niacinamide (vitamin b3); a formula with one main purpose
  • Tolerance1.0No ingredients from irritant or allergen lists
  • adults
  • pregnancyallowed per the leaflet
  • oily skin
  • acne-prone
  • atopic skin
  • dry skin
  • children
  • sensitive skinat 10 % flushing is possible
  • rosaceaask a dermatologist
Free from:
  • alcohol (alcohol denat) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “denatured alcohol” group — evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores
  • sulfates (SLS/SLES) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “ammonium laureth sulfate (ALES), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), sodium coco-sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium myreth sulfate, TEA-lauryl sulfate” group — a cleansing surfactant from the sulfate family but with an ethoxylated chain: it cleanses more gently than lauryl sulfate. Still not for those looking for a sulfate-free product.
  • formaldehyde releasers · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “formaldehyde releasers” group — preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde; allowed at low levels but a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI)” group — preservatives; banned in EU leave-on products and limited in rinse-off (0.0015%) — a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • fragrance · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “fragrance and its allergens” group — the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • parabens · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “parabens” group — preservatives; methyl- and ethylparaben are recognised as safe at permitted levels, propyl- and butyl- are limited by the EU to 0.14 %; a frequent buyer question rather than proven harm
  • mineral oils and petrolatum · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “petrolatum and mineral oils” group — purified cosmetic-grade petroleum products: form a protective barrier film; safety is established, a preference question; 0–2 of 5 (depends on the raw-material source), cosmetic white oil per DiNardo (2005) is non-comedogenic
  • soap · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “potassium soap (potassium cocoate), plant soap base (sodium palmate, sodium cocoate), tallow soap base (sodium tallowate)” group — liquid soap: fatty acids boiled with alkali. It cleanses well, but its acidity is around 9-10 against 5 for skin, which is why it often leaves tightness. The product is rinsed off, so the question is tolerance.
  • silicones · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “silicones” group — form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • gelatin in the coating · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “vegetarian coating” group — a plant-based tablet coating instead of gelatin; it keeps moisture out and makes swallowing easier
  • toning dyes · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “violet toning dyes” group — direct dyes that settle on the hair surface and cancel the yellow cast of blonde; they wash out in 1–3 washes and leave a lilac tint if left too long; HC Blue 2 and Disperse Violet 1 are known contact allergens of hair dyes
  • tar · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “wood (birch) tar” group — a traditional remedy for dandruff and itching with a sharp smell; it reduces flaking, but can irritate a sensitive scalp and dries the hair
What for: Against dark spots you need two fronts: actives that slow pigment production (azelaic and tranexamic acids, niacinamide, vitamin C, arbutin, thiamidol) and those that speed up skin renewal (a retinoid, acids). One active per front is enough; better both fronts and SPF in the daytime.
When:
  • leave-on
  • morning
  • evening
morning and evening, on clean skin
When to expect an effect: tone, pores — 4–8 weeks; sebum — 2–4; hydration — immediately; lasting effect — 2–4 weeks; softness — right away; dryness — 1–2 weeks; soothing and less tightness — within days; soothing — days; no notable healing to expect
What is normal: mild flushing in the first days at high concentration; nothing special — well tolerated

Ingredients — 24 components · 5 work

What works: 5 of 24 ingredients: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, squalane and 2 more. Against dark spots you need two fronts: actives that slow pigment production (azelaic and tranexamic acids, niacinamide, vitamin C, arbutin, thiamidol) and those that speed up skin renewal (a retinoid, acids). One active per front is enough; better both fronts and SPF in the daytime.

Strengths: active concentration, tolerance

What lowers the score: actives and evidence: actives with strong evidence: 1 of 5; completeness for the purpose: for “dark spots and uneven tone” — 54 %

Questions: no debatable ingredients in the formula

  • Water base: coating, fillers · water — the solvent and base; listed first because there is more of it than anything else; in supplements — part of the capsule shell
  • Glycerin base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • Niacinamide works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: niacinamide
  • Sodium Hyaluronate works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: sodium hyaluronate
  • Propanediol base: coating, fillers · a humectant and solvent from corn sugar: it holds water and helps actives dissolve. A gentler replacement for propylene glycol.
  • Erythritol base: coating, fillers · draws water in and holds it in the upper layer of the skin
  • Butylene Glycol base: coating, fillers · a humectant and solvent: it makes the texture lighter and helps actives spread. Better tolerated than propylene glycol.
  • Squalane works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: squalane (saturated, from olive or sugarcane)
  • Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract base: coating, fillers · plant and algae extracts and floral waters: flavouring and marketing components — at these shares there is no proven effect on the skin; rare reactions in people allergic to that particular plant
  • Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: flower extract
  • Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract base: coating, fillers · plant and algae extracts and floral waters: flavouring and marketing components — at these shares there is no proven effect on the skin; rare reactions in people allergic to that particular plant
  • Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract base: coating, fillers · plant and algae extracts and floral waters: flavouring and marketing components — at these shares there is no proven effect on the skin; rare reactions in people allergic to that particular plant
  • Malpighia Glabra (Acerola) Fruit Extract base: coating, fillers · softens the skin and helps it hold water — the most common role in creams
  • Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate base: coating, fillers · softens the skin and helps it hold water — the most common role in creams
  • Chlorphenesin base: coating, fillers · a preservative, usually paired with phenoxyethanol. Permitted in the EU up to 0.3 %.
  • Arginine base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • Ethylhexylglycerin base: coating, fillers · a preservative booster and skin-conditioning ingredient: it barely preserves on its own but helps phenoxyethanol work and lowers the amount needed.
  • Carbomer base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Glutathione base: coating, fillers · breaks chemical bonds — how perm products work
  • 1,2-Hexanediol base: coating, fillers · a solvent and humectant with antimicrobial action: it helps the product keep without classic preservatives.
  • Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin base: coating, fillers · a ring of sugars with a cavity inside: it hides an unstable or poorly soluble ingredient there and releases it to the skin gradually; it has no action of its own on the skin
  • Disodium EDTA base: coating, fillers · bind hard-water metals so the formula stays stable and the foam works
  • Hydroxyethylcellulose base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Allantoin works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: allantoin
  • Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil base: coating, fillers · softens the skin and helps it hold water — the most common role in creams

AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum is a product whose active ingredient is niacinamide (vitamin b3) + hyaluronic acid + squalane + allantoin. The concentration is not declared, but the active sits above the 1 % line in the list — a working share is likely. The effect is supported by studies: niacinamide (vitamin b3). The effect is moderately supported: hyaluronic acid, allantoin. There is little evidence of effect: squalane, calendula extract. The formula has 24 ingredients, 5 of which do the work; the rest is the formula base. Against dark spots you need two fronts: actives that slow pigment production (azelaic and tranexamic acids, niacinamide, vitamin C, arbutin, thiamidol) and those that speed up skin renewal (a retinoid, acids). One active per front is enough; better both fronts and SPF in the daytime. By the list, no alcohol (alcohol denat), sulfates (SLS/SLES), formaldehyde releasers, isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI), fragrance, parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, silicones, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults, pregnancy, oily skin, acne-prone, atopic skin, dry skin, children. sensitive skin, rosacea — ask a doctor. Asteraceae allergy — not without a doctor. Use: morning and evening, on clean skin. When to expect an effect: tone, pores — 4–8 weeks; sebum — 2–4. Label score — 7.7 out of 10 (actives with strong evidence: 1 of 5; actives sit above the 1 % line — by list order a working concentration is 94 % likely; for “dark spots and uneven tone” — 54 %; retinoid; glycolic acid; could be added without conflict: retinoid, glycolic acid; below threshold: niacinamide (vitamin b3); a formula with one main purpose). Rosemary essential oil is a common cause of contact reactions on sensitive skin. The brand does not state the niacinamide share.

Who it does not suit

  • Asteraceae allergychamomile, ragweed, calendula

When to stop: persistent burning — stop; tightness in dry air — apply under a cream; new comedones — stop; itching or rash with Asteraceae allergy — stop

Per the maker's leaflet: Rosemary essential oil is a common cause of contact reactions on sensitive skin. The brand does not state the niacinamide share.

Is this product right for your skin?

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