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Details & care
What it is: A water-based brightening serum specifically designed to target uneven skin tone and visibly improve pigmentation.
What it does: The formula combines a high concentration of purified alpha arbutin, a well-known skin-brightening ingredient, with hyaluronic acid. Purified alpha-arbutin works to target dark spots and uneven skin tone. Meanwhile, hyaluronic acid helps to support product absorption into the skin.
How to use: Apply a few drops of the serum to the face in the morning and evening. Use sun protection during the day. If irritation occurs, rinse off, cease use and consult a physician. Use only as directed on unbroken skin. Patch testing prior to use is advised.
Note: Alpha Arbutin is extremely sensitive to degradation in the presence of water if the pH of the formulation is not ideal. The pH of this formula has been shown to be the most suitable pH to minimize degradation of Alpha Arbutin.
- 1 oz.
- Paraben-free; phthalate-free; silicone-free; sulfate-free
- Made in Canada
- Item #5982029
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Alpha-Arbutin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lactic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
Ingredients are subject to change at the manufacturer's discretion. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging
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The Ordinary
The Ordinary is democratizing skin care by bringing well-known active ingredients to market at sensible price points. All products are made in the brand's lab, tested on humans (The Ordinary is vegan and cruelty-free) and use ingredients at their highest quality and most effective concentrations. The Ordinary is Clinical Formulations with Integrity.
Most helpful positive review
Dec 25, 2019
Incentivized review
Great product
Really love this product. I have tried more expensive ones and get the same great results from this for a fraction of the cost. So happy I decided to give this a try.
Melis75
2found this helpful
Most helpful critical review
Nov 22, 2025
The smell is horrible do not buy
There is nothing this product can do for the skin to make it worth the smell. It’s so horrible I’m going to have to throw the bottle away. I was hoping maybe if I put it on and it dried and I put other stuff over it that I’d be fine but I can’t get the smell out of my nose. It smells like putting onions on your face.
TAM
Reposted from deciem.com
deciem.com response
Hi Tam, thanks for taking the time to share your review for Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA! We can confirm that our products do not contain any added fragrance therefore, any scent you may detect is a natural result of the ingredients. With that said, we know that smell is subjective so the scent of some formulas may be stronger to some than others. We're sorry to hear about your disappointment and will ensure this feedback is passed along internally. Please feel free to reach out to our Product Experts via our Contact Page for help finding an alternative: www.theordinary.com/contact
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Sort by Most Helpful
Melis75
Dec 25, 2019
Incentivized review
Great product
Really love this product. I have tried more expensive ones and get the same great results from this for a fraction of the cost. So happy I decided to give this a try.
2found this helpful
Malaugestudios
Reposted from deciem.com
Mar 25, 2026
Perfect Everyday Serum!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] If you’re looking to hydrate your skin while targeting hyperpigmentation, this serum is a great option. It’s lightweight, absorbs quickly, and I love to use this right after my toner. Definitely worth trying! gifted by theordinary
Z
Reposted from deciem.com
Mar 24, 2026
Great product but smells funky
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] complimentary from theordinary So this product works great. Using the combo growth factors and this…. The way it smooths out my fine lines it’s truly mindblowing. However. IT SMELLS LIKE ONIONS/GARLIC and has a sticky texture. I thought it was food seeping from my pores but it is this product. If you can get past it, it’s worth it. Great price as well
PatriciaC
Reposted from deciem.com
Mar 24, 2026
Love it
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] gifted by theordinary, I loved trying out this serum! I love how affordable their skincare always is and they actually work! I love how ingredient focused they are, like this serum which really helps improve and smooth my skin texture.
DesiE
Reposted from deciem.com
Mar 23, 2026
Excellent addition to my routine
I have been using the Alpha Arbutin serum for 6 months and it has really made a difference. I am trying a focused approach to skincare and this has become a staple!!
TenshiFire
Reposted from deciem.com
Mar 23, 2026
Patience is key
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I've been using this for over a week, if I'm not going out, I use it in my morning routine. Otherwise, I mainly use it for my nighttime routine. I know it'll take some time before I see real results, but my experience using this has been pretty good. It's super easy to drop 2-3 drops on my hand before dabbing it on my skin. There are no artificial scents or colors, it does smell weird, like rubber, but that fades quite quickly. The serum also absorbs quite fast into my skin. I received this complimentary from The Ordinary in exchange for my honest review.
