artnaturals Glycolic Acid Serum Versus Rationale #5 The Serum
Updated on July 11, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and BHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
artnaturals Glycolic Acid Serum 19 ingredients
Rationale #5 The Serum 55 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
artnaturals Glycolic Acid Serum 19 ingredients
Rationale #5 The Serum 55 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Water, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acer Saccharum Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSalicylic Acid
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingGlycerin
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningDiutan Gum
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf
Abrasive
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialMentha Australis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Santalum Spicatum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Oil
Astringent
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Copper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantLimonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Glycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Sodium Levulinate, Acer Saccharum Extract, Diutan Gum, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf, Sodium Anisate, Mentha Australis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Santalum Spicatum Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Citrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Copper Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Citronellol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract comes from the bilberry plant. This plant is native to Eurasia.
Bilberry contains antioxidant compounds called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. Fighting off these molecules can help reduce signs of aging.
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract also helps reduce irritation.
Learn more about Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit ExtractLactic Acid is an AHA that is derived from fermenting lactose, a carbohydrate from milk. It removes the top layer of old and dead skin cells and helps increase cell turnover.
Benefits of Lactic Acid are that it can help to reduce large pores and reduce the effects of aging. Some potential downsides are that it can be bad for dry skin, cause irritation, worsen eczema, and worsen rosacea.
Not only does it help exfoliate the skin, it helps strengthen the skin's barrier. When applied, lactic acid helps the skin create ceramides.
Lactic acid is an over-the-counter chemical exfoliant that comes from the fermentation of lactose — a carbohydrate found in milk.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.
Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.
In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidThis ingredient is also called sugarcane extract. It is a moisturizing humectant and has skin soothing properties.
Similar to hyaluronic acid, sugarcane can attract moisture to your skin.
Glycolic acid is a derivative of sugarcane. While glycolic acid is an AHA with exfoliating properties, sugarcane is not an AHA.
A study from 2021 found the compounds in sugarcane extract to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity. The study also suggests these compounds can inhibit skin ageing enzymes and promote collagen synthesis.
Learn more about Saccharum Officinarum ExtractCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract is more commonly known as the bitter orange. Native to Southeast Asia, this extract is commonly found in both cosmetics and foods.
The bitter orange possesses antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
It can also be mildly exfoliating due to the citric acid, an AHA.
Citrus fruits are rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, and vitamin C.
Learn more about Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit ExtractCitrus Limon Fruit Extract comes from lemons. While lemon extract is exfoliating and antimicrobial, it can also cause skin sensitivity.
Lemons contains antioxidants, which may help with anti-aging. They are also rich in citric acid, an AHA.
And of course, lemons are rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps with skin-brightening and increasing collagen production.
The acidity of lemons may work as an astringent for acne.
However, lemons can also cause skin sensitivity due to its limonene content. It can also increase photosensitivity, or sensitivity to the sun.
This ingredient is also used to add a lemon scent to products.
Learn more about Citrus Limon Fruit ExtractWe don't have a description for Acer Saccharum Extract yet.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
