The original, what makes it special, the shelf parts we use and how to get closer. Add or swap parts and the score updates.
The original · Face Reality
$49 · 2.5 oz
A creamy mask with 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid (a stable vitamin C), palmitoyl tripeptide-5, nonapeptide-1, undecylenoyl phenylalanine and diglucosyl gallic acid, aimed at dark spots and dullness.
Prices and listings checked Oct 28, 2026. Amazon prices change; the link shows today's price.
Step 2 · The build
Naturium
Partial credit means the part only partly matches that standout.
The 100 points
We split Brighten-C Mask into 4 standout parts. Each bar shows what the build earns.
Stable vitamin C; amount unpublished.
Marketed dark-spot actives with no clinical study located here.
No close retail equivalent: we credit at most 25% of these points.
A signaling peptide; related palmitoyl pentapeptide improved photoaged skin.
No close retail equivalent: we credit at most 50% of these points.
Antioxidant at an unpublished level.
No close retail equivalent: we credit at most 25% of these points.
Optional
28 / 100. We have not found a shelf product that closes more of the gap yet.
50 is our ceiling. 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid has no close retail equivalent, so we cap it at 75% credit. Nonapeptide-1 and undecylenoyl phenylalanine has no close retail equivalent, so we cap it at 25% credit. Palmitoyl tripeptide-5 has no close retail equivalent, so we cap it at 50% credit. Diglucosyl gallic acid has no close retail equivalent, so we cap it at 25% credit.
Step 3 · Buy
One link per part. Each opens the retailer in a new tab.
Your build
Running total $19.99
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)Snapshot prices. Each link shows today's price.
One bottle instead of a build. Sorted by match score; scores use the same standouts as above.
Naturium
No close match yet — we show the nearest formulas.
Why it is close. A $19.99 moisturizer with 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid and palmitoyl tripeptide-5.
Naturium
Why it is close. A $16.79 vitamin C serum with a different mix of vitamin C forms.
Naturium
Running total
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)No gain nowNaturium
Naturium
Running total
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)No gain nowNaturium
Arbutin-type depigmenting agents are reviewed as melanin-synthesis blockers; the vitamin C ester here is a different mechanism with no study cited.
Boo 2021 · Antioxidants (Basel)aqua (water), caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycerin, hydroxypropyl starch phosphate, cetyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, peg-100 stearate, stearic acid, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, cetearyl olivate, sodium stearoyl glutamate, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, undecylenoyl phenylalanine, 1,2- hexanediol, caprylyl glycol, sorbitan olivate, sodium hydroxide, bisabolol (l-alpha), sodium gluconate, diglucosyl gallic acid, succinoglycan, tropolone, sodium hyaluronate (l), palmitoyl tripeptide-5, butylene glycol, rumex occidentalis extract, dextran, nonapeptide-1
We split Brighten-C Mask into 4 standout parts worth 100 points in total. The build earns 28 of a possible 50. 50 is the most we claim, because some standouts have no close retail equivalent.
Naturium Multi-Peptide Moisturizer by Naturium is our closest single-product match at 28 out of 100 for $19.99 (50 ml / 1.7 fl oz). It shares 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Niacinamide, Squalane.
Brighten-C Mask costs $49 for 2.5 oz. The closest dupe costs $19.99, a saving of about $29.01. Prices change, so check the seller page.
No. Dupes share the key actives but can differ in concentration, vehicle and supporting ingredients. Missing from this one: Nonapeptide-1, Undecylenoyl phenylalanine. See our methodology for how we score.
SkinBetter Science · serum
~$82.71our build, 4 partsOriginal ~$190, build ~$82.71.
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$56.27our build, 4 partsOriginal ~$170, build $56.27.
The Ordinary + Good Molecules + CeraVe + Naturium
Obagi · serum
$51.48our build, 3 partsOriginal $145, build $51.48.
CeraVe + The Ordinary + Minimalist