This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Gluconolactone to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores.
This pore-care toner is formulated around Houttuynia Cordata Extract and Gluconolactone to refine the look of pores and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Chelating
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Amylopectin
Dextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
ChelatingSodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
Preservative
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Niacinamide, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, Acer Saccharum Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Polyglutamic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPinus Thunbergii Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAtractylodes Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dianthus Chinensis Extract
HumectantViola Odorata Extract
Skin ConditioningOrthosiphon Stamineus Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Castanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningDiospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Gluconolactone
Chelating
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Glycerin, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Pyrus Malus Juice, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Thunbergii Leaf Extract, Atractylodes Japonica Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Dianthus Chinensis Extract, Viola Odorata Extract, Orthosiphon Stamineus Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Gluconolactone, Allantoin, Sodium Citrate, Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Beta-Glucan, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDextrin is a starch-derived polysaccharide. It's made by partially breaking down corn, potato, or other plant starches.
Think of it as "half-processed" starch; it's less complex than the original but not fully broken down into sugar like maltodextrin.
In cosmetics, it mainly functions as a bulking agent, viscosity controller, binder, and absorbent. It helps thicken products, stabilize powders, and get certain textures a less "wet" feel.
This ingredient has a pretty solid safety profile; it's recognized as a safe food additive and its large molecular size means it doesn't meaningfully penetrate skin.
Human repeat insult patch tests using a rinse-off facial product containing 42.69% dextrin found no skin irritation or sensitization in 54 subjects.
Typical real-world usage is much lower: usually under 1% as a texture modifier and up to 40% in masks (rinse off products use less).
Learn more about DextrinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
