Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream Review

Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream
3.8
/ 10
Moisturizing
7.6 Humectancy icon Humectancy
0.0 Occlusivity icon Occlusivity
4.5Anti-wrinkle icon/ 10
Anti-wrinkle
Rich
in Antioxidants
Rich Skin Soothing icon
in Skin Soothers
Review

Does Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream Work?

 
According to CreamScan AI's analysis of the ingredient list, here’s what Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream has to offer:
 
  • Light moisturizing. It has a moisturizing rating of 3.8 out of 10.
  • Considerable anti-wrinkle efficacy: Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream has an anti-wrinkle rating of 4.5 out of 10, indicating a moderate ability to reduce wrinkles.
  • Soothing: Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream contains a high concentration of soothing ingredients, which may help to reduce irritation and calm the skin.
  • Antioxidant protection.

Key Benefits of Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream

 
These are the key benefits you can expect from using Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream:
 

Lightweight Purely Humectant Moisturizer Well-Suited for Oily Skin

According to CreamScan analysis, Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream is lightly moisturizing, with a moisturizing rating of 3.8 out of 10.

Is it more humectant or occlusive? Purely humectant. It has zero occlusivity (we didn't find any occlusive ingredients on the ingredient list) and a high humectancy of 7.6 out of 10, primarily due to the high content of Niacinamide (est. ≈3.0%) and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (est. ≈2.0%).

This humectant-rich product, when used alone as a moisturizer, is well-suited for oily skin, providing moderate hydration in a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula without any occlusive ingredients.

Tip: Certain studies suggest that humectants alone may not effectively moisturize the skin. If you use this product as your only moisturizer, we recommend following it with one that contains at least some occlusive ingredients.

A Humectant Enhancement for Any Skincare Routine

But it’s not limited to oily skin - such a humectant enhancement will also positively contribute to the moisturizing efficacy of any skincare routine when used as a step before applying the main moisturizer. This type of formulation is typically used in serums, where a light, fast-absorbing texture is key.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the moisturizing rating calculation.

Considerable Anti-Wrinkle Efficacy

According to CreamScan analysis, Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream has a moderate anti-wrinkle rating of 4.5 out of 10.

It contains one ingredient with proven anti-wrinkle efficacy: Niacinamide (est. ≈3.0%), 
 one of the most effective and well-researched anti-wrinkle ingredients. A clinical study involving 30 participants (Kawada et al.) confirmed that a cream with 4% niacinamide reduced the average depth of wrinkles around the eyes by 9% after 8 weeks of use, compared to a vehicle (the same formulation without niacinamide).
 
Among others, Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream also contains 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, an ingredient often marketed as effective in reducing wrinkles. However, the studies supporting the anti-wrinkle claims of 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid provide insufficient evidence of its efficacy according to CreamScan Research Evaluation Standards. Therefore, this ingredient does not contribute to the anti-wrinkle rating.
 
Moisturizers, when used regularly, are proven to prevent wrinkle formation and even reduce existing wrinkles. Therefore, this product, like any other moisturizer, can deliver some anti-wrinkle effects through its moisturizing action.
 

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the anti-wrinkle rating calculation.

Rich in Skin-Protecting Antioxidants

We estimate that Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream is rich (> 3%) in antioxidants, specifically Alpha-Arbutin (est. ≈3.0%), Niacinamide (est. ≈3.0%), 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (est. ≈3.0%), and others.

A key benefit of antioxidants is their ability to reduce oxidative stress caused by free radicals and therefore prevent accelerated skin aging. Studies also show that antioxidants can protect against environmental damage such as UV radiation and pollution, and help reduce inflammation and skin redness.

Skin Soothing and Calming Potential

Based on the ingredient list analysis, Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream is rich (> 5%) in soothing ingredients, particularly Niacinamide (est. ≈3.0%), Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract (est. ≈2.5%) and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (est. ≈2.0%).

When applied to the skin, compounds of soothing ingredients, such as triglycerides, phospholipids, fatty acids, phenolic compounds, and antioxidants, work together to soothe the skin through various mechanisms: reducing inflammation, promoting wound healing, repairing the skin barrier, and providing antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.

Please note that this is not a complete list of benefits. We are in the process of enhancing our AI model to incorporate anti-pigmentation, exfoliation and anti-acne ratings.

Things to Be Aware Of: Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream

 
CreamScan AI identified a few things to consider before adding Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream to your skincare routine:
 

If It’s Your Only Moisturizer, It Needs to Be Paired with Some Occlusives

While humectants are highly effective at attracting water to the skin, studies (J. N. Kraft, C. W. Lynde) suggest they may not be efficient when used alone.

One major drawback of purely humectant moisturization is that the water attracted by humectants to the upper layers of the skin can evaporate completely into the environment through transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Adding occlusive ingredients helps seal this moisture into the skin and prevent further water loss.

If you’re using Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream as your only moisturizer, consider pairing it with one that contains at least some occlusive ingredients, such as oils, butters, or silicones. These work alongside humectants to create a protective barrier, locking in hydration and ensuring longer-lasting moisturization. The amount of occlusive needed depends on your skin type - the drier the skin, the more occlusives it requires.

If this product is used not as a standalone moisturizer but as part of your skincare routine, such as a toner or serum, it should be applied before your main moisturizer (unless it's a sunscreen), which will provide the necessary occlusivity on top of it.

Pros & Cons of Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream

 
Here’s an overview of the pros and cons of Dear Me Beauty Brightening Water Cream to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your skincare routine:
 

Pros:

  • When used alone: Provides humectant-rich moisturizing well-suited for oily skin
  • As part of a routine: A humectant moisturizing enhancement, beneficial for any skin type
  • Lightweight texture
  • Provides considerable anti-wrinkle efficacy thanks to Niacinamide
  • Rich in antioxidants that combat oxidative stress associated with accelerated skin aging and defend against environmental damage
  • Potentially soothing, as it contains a high concentration of soothing ingredients like Niacinamide and Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

Cons: 

  • Only if used as a standalone moisturizer - it needs to be paired with occlusives to seal in humectants

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
80
3
3
3
3
2.5
2
1.5
1.3
1
0.3
0.3
Est. %
Water
Function:
Origin:
Alpha-Arbutin
Function:
Origin:
Tranexamic Acid
Function:
Origin:
Niacinamide
Function:
Origin:
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Function:
Origin:
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Function:
Origin:
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Function:
Origin:
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Function:
Origin:
Centella Asiatica Oil
Function:
Origin:
Panthenol
Function:
Origin:
Carrageenan
Function:
Origin:
Hyaluronic Acid
Function:
Origin:

Ratings

All humectants
7.6
3
2
1.3
1
0.3
Benchmark
10
All occlusives
0.0
None
Benchmark
20
Moisturizing rating
3.8
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Raiting
Humectancy All humectants 7.6 10
7.6
3
2
1.3
1
0.3
Occlusivity All occlusives 0.0 20
0.0
None
Moisturizing rating
3.8
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Humectancy
3
2
1.3
1
0.3
All humectants 7.6 10
7.6
All humectants
7.6
3
2
1.3
1
0.3
Benchmark
10
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Occlusivity
None
All occlusives 0.0 20
0.0
All occlusives
0.0
None
Benchmark
20
Ingredient
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
when present at, %
in this formula est. %
Rating
6 /10 4 3 4.5
n/a
- 3 -
Total
4.5
Niacinamide
4.5
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
6 /10
when present at, %
4
in this formula, est. %
3
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
-
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
n/a
when present at, %
-
in this formula, est. %
3
Anti-wrinkle rating
4.5
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Antioxidants
3
3
3
2.5
1.5
1.3
0.3
All antioxidants 14.6 3 Rich in antioxidants
All antioxidants
14.6
Niacinamide
3
Alpha-Arbutin
3
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
3
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
2.5
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
1.5
Centella Asiatica Oil
1.3
Hyaluronic Acid
0.3
Benchmark
3
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Soothing
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
All soothing 10 5 Rich in soothing
All soothing
10
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
Benchmark
5

Ingredients explained

Water
Est. %80
Function
Origin
WaterThe most used ingredient in skincare. Its concentration defines the product texture: rich creams may have about 50% of water while a light jelly about 90%. Water doesn’t moisturize the skin by itself and is used in skincare as a solvent for other ingredients.
Alpha-Arbutin
Est. %3
Function
Origin
Alpha-Arbutin
Tranexamic Acid
Est. %3
Function
Origin
Tranexamic AcidA synthetic amino acid that is used as an astringent to stop the bleeding from small cuts. It also has proven anti-pigment and redness-reducing effects.
Niacinamide
Est. %3
Function
Origin
Niacinamide

Also known as vitamin B3, this ingredient is a true superstar with confirmed moisturizing, anti-acne, hyperpigmentation, and antioxidant benefits. Two studies confirm its significant anti-wrinkle efficacy.

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Est. %3
Function
Origin
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidA derivative of vitamin C. Its stability in skincare formulations is better than ascorbic acid’s, although clinical studies are yet to indicate whether it has the same collagen-boosting benefits.
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Est. %2.5
Function
Origin
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf ExtractAn extract derived from the leaves of Holy Basil, also known as Tulsi, a traditional herb used in Ayurveda medicine. It contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory rosmarinic acid, galic acid, flavonoids, and a sweet-scented essential oil.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Est. %2
Function
Origin
Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateA licorice root derivative with powerful anti-inflammatory and soothing activities. It is often used as a flavoring agent in lip products.
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Est. %1.5
Function
Origin
Artemisia Vulgaris ExtractAn extract derived from common mugwort. The plant contains an essential oil that gives the extract its strong, pine-like, cooling aroma. It also boasts antioxidant and astringent flavonoids and terpenes.
Centella Asiatica Oil
Est. %1.3
Function
Origin
Centella Asiatica Oil
Panthenol
Est. %1
Function
Origin
PanthenolA popular soothing and moisturizing derivative of vitamin B5. Panthenol is particularly beneficial for dry, flaking, burned, or damaged skin. It is used to alleviate the symptoms of a rash, dermatitis, eczema, chapped lips, and sunburn.
Carrageenan
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
CarrageenanA gum-like thickener derived from a species of red algae called Irish moss. It helps to form a soft film on the skin, and aids in stabilizing product forms.
Hyaluronic Acid
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Hyaluronic Acid

A potent, skin-identical humectant moisturizing ingredient that is able to bind water 1000 times its own weight. The anti-aging benefits of hyaluronic acid are due to its ability to stimulate the synthesis of collagen in the skin.