Discoloration Defense
Reviewed by SerumTruth Editorial · Price and formula checked July 2026
A genuinely multi-active pigment serum with all three brighteners on the label, which is rare at any price. You pay a steep prestige premium, and the kojic acid means the clock starts the day you open it.
- Every active discloses its concentration
- Costly to use, about $69 a month
- Evidence18 / 30
Strength of the research behind the key actives
- Tranexamic Acid: moderate evidence
- Kojic Acid: limited evidence
- Niacinamide: moderate evidence
The average of the key actives’ evidence grades.
- Potency21 / 25
Dosed at studied levels, not fairy-dusted
- Tranexamic Acid (3%): dosed at a studied level
- Kojic Acid (1%): dosed at a studied level
- Niacinamide (5%): dosed at a studied level
How strongly the actives are dosed, led by the strongest, not how many there are.
- Delivery & stability12 / 20
Delivery tech + packaging that protects fragile actives
- Delivery: standard
- Packaging: tinted glass
- Air- or light-sensitive actives (Kojic Acid), so packaging is scored.
Delivery tech plus packaging, and packaging only counts when actives are fragile.
- Formulation9 / 10
Disclosure, active breadth, and ingredient generation
- 3 of 3 actives disclose a concentration
- 3 key actives (breadth credit caps at 3)
- Current-generation or synergistic: Tranexamic Acid, Kojic Acid
Disclosure, active breadth, and current-generation or synergistic actives.
- Value3 / 15
What a month of use costs vs. the category
- About $69 per month to use
- $115 for 30 ml, used about twice a day (about 0.3 ml each time), so a bottle lasts about 1.7 months
What a month of use costs: full marks at $6 a month or less, the floor at $60 a month or more.
Tap any row to see how its score was built.
Ranks #53 of 56 brightening serums we have scored.
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What’s inside
| Active | Disclosed | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Tranexamic Acid | 3% | Studied |
| Kojic Acid | 1% | Studied |
| Niacinamide | 5% | Studied |
Three disclosed brighteners aimed at the appearance of dark spots from different angles: 3% tranexamic acid, 5% niacinamide and 1% kojic acid, plus 5% HEPES for gentle surface turnover. Kojic acid browns in air and light, and the opaque dropper bottle protects it less than an airless pump would, so use it fresh and re-cap it fast.
How it’s delivered
Air- and light-sensitive actives (vitamin C, copper peptides) lose potency fast in the wrong packaging, so delivery and the bottle are scored, not just what’s on the label.
The actives, explained
What the research says
In a 12 week trial, 3% topical tranexamic acid was linked with a more even looking skin tone, similar to a standard comparison cream.
Topical tranexamic acid as a promising treatment for melasma. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2014. PubMed ↗
In an 80 person trial, a kojic acid based formula supported more even looking skin tone, performing similarly to hydroquinone 4% cream.
Evaluation of a kojic acid, emblica extract, and glycolic acid formulation compared with hydroquinone 4% for skin lightening. Cutis, 2010. PubMed ↗
A study of the active, not this exact product. What matters for the score is whether this serum uses it at a comparable dose.
Higher-scoring alternatives
Same category, better SerumProof score. Worth a look before you buy.
Revision history
- July 11, 2026Price and formula rechecked
- July 10, 2026Review published
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Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. The SerumProof score reflects our reading of publicly available research and formulation disclosures. See how scoring works.