Versus

Garden of Wisdom PHA Plus Serum Versus The INKEY List Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Toner

Serum
Toner
American Brand United States
British Brand United Kingdom

Updated on June 05, 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, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing 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 needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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 Water
Skin Conditioning

Gluconolactone 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 Gluconolactone
Solvent

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin. 

It’s often used to:

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

Ingredient Ratings

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

When to use

10 Routines
60% use in am
40% use in pm
80% use every on_specific_days
179 Routines
39% use in am
61% use in pm
82% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

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 3 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Great Value (1) No Scent (1)
marthinebolmemoen's avatar

marthine ✧.*

3 months ago
Review

PHA is the only exfoliate ingredient I can use because of my sensitive skin and this product really helped me with my acne. Sadly it is a bit drying

kshil97's avatar

kshil97

2 months ago
Review

This is one of my favorite toners. It has a lot of great ingredients and feels great on my skin. It's not a product that shows massive results, but it does its job without irritating my skin or causing me to break out.

#great value
#absorbs well
#no scent
#works well