This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Azelaic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Bentonite
Absorbent
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Uliginosum Berry Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Malic Acid
Buffering
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Citrus Clementina Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningFragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Malus Domestica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Bud Extract
Perfuming
Rubus Occidentalis Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantBambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCarrageenan
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Fragaria Vesca Seed
AstringentGlucose
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Sodium Phytate
ChelatingLactobacillus/Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Isomalt
HumectantVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Bentonite, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Glycolic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Uliginosum Berry Extract, Citric Acid, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Malic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Citrus Clementina Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Ribes Nigrum Bud Extract, Rubus Occidentalis Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, CI 77891, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Carrageenan, Potassium Sorbate, Fragaria Vesca Seed, Glucose, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Menthyl Lactate, Sodium Phytate, Lactobacillus/Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Ferment Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isomalt, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lecithin, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentStearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
ChelatingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCholesterol
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Silica
Abrasive
Malachite Extract
Antioxidant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentBenzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Diisostearyl Malate, C12-16 Alcohols, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Mannitol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Propanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Adenosine, Parfum, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Cholesterol, Linalool, Silica, Malachite Extract, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Dextrin, Benzyl Salicylate, Cyanocobalamin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
