Fundamentals · Serum

2% Alpha Arbutin + 2% Licorice Serum 8.3 / 10

Name: 2% Alpha Arbutin + 2% Licorice Serum
Brand: Fundamentals

Reviewed by Michael C.

Arbutin plus licorice (glabridin) give dual tyrosinase inhibition for excellent-value pigment correction — one of the best brightening buys in SA.

Efficacy7.5

Value for money9.5

Texture8.0

SA climate fit8.0

SkinLabs Promise — No Hype. Just Evidence.

The SkinLabs Promise

No hype, just evidence — this review is independently researched from publicly available information, ingredient analysis and editorial testing.

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Where to buy in South Africa

Takealot — R129 (checked 5 days ago)

Prices are read automatically from each retailer's own product page and change often. Pack sizes can differ between listings; check the retailer before you buy.

Your Intelligent Routine Builder

Built around 2% Alpha Arbutin + 2% Licorice Serum — every other step is the highest-scoring, skin-type-matched product in our review set, not a fabricated or paid recommendation.

Estimated routine costR1094

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The full breakdown

Arbutin plus licorice (glabridin) give dual tyrosinase inhibition for excellent-value pigment correction — one of the best brightening buys in SA.

Ingredient breakdown

Alpha Arbutin 2%
Moderate evidence
A split-face clinical study in melasma patients found alpha-arbutin delivered via a chitosan-nanoparticle hydrogel produced greater reductions in melasma severity scores than a standard alpha-arbutin hydrogel, supporting its role as a tyrosinase-inhibiting brightening active.
Licorice Root Extract
Limited evidence
Commonly used as a skin-brightening ingredient. A mechanistic in-vitro study found dehydroglyasperin C, a licorice component, suppressed melanin synthesis in melanocyte cells by downregulating a key pigmentation-driving transcription factor (MITF) — real, direct evidence for licorice's brightening mechanism, though from a cell-culture model rather than a human clinical trial.

Best suited to

All, Dark Marks

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