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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Garden of Wisdom PHA Plus Serum versus The INKEY List Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Toner .

Last updated on January 19, 2024. Published on February 16, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 3 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain PHA

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, brightening skin, sensitive skin and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum Brand
Toner British Brand United Kingdom

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Toner

Toners are used as a “last-step” cleanser, a pH balancer, add moisture to the skin, or may help in reducing impurities on the skin. They have a liquid consistency and are usually used after cleansers but before treatments.

Price

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

AHA
PHA (2)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture (2)
Anti-Aging (2)
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Irritating
Rosacea

Notable Ingredients

PHA
Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Acne Fighting
Brightening (2)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Garden of Wisdom PHA Plus Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

The INKEY List Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Gluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs have a larger structure than AHAs and BHAs and are more gentle. It is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.

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 helps improve texture and brightens the skin.

Gluconolactone is a humectant and helps draw moisture to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.

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.

PHAs also exhibit antioxidant activity by neutralizing free-radical molecules. This can help with anti-aging.

In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells. However, we still recommend wearing SPF especially after using exfoliating ingredients.

Learn more about Gluconolactone

Garden of Wisdom PHA Plus Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

The INKEY List Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Toner contains this as ingredient number 3.

3
What it does: Solvent
Community Rating: Liked

Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.

It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol

Garden of Wisdom PHA Plus Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

The INKEY List Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Toner contains this as ingredient number 2.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

100% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
0% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet
44% are loved or liked
25% have mixed ratings
31% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Garden of Wisdom PHA Plus Serum 9 ingredients

PHA Plus Serum hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

The INKEY List Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Toner 16 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 1 rating

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 34 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Garden of Wisdom PHA Plus Serum.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The INKEY List Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Toner.

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