What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlycolic Acid 8%
BufferingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientOryza Sativa Powder
Glyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingOryza Sativa Bran Water
MaskingNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract
AbrasiveLactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingGeranium Robertianum Extract
AstringentPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHectorite
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid 8%, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Powder, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Potassium Hydroxide, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Geranium Robertianum Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sodium PCA, Acer Saccharum Extract, Panthenol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hectorite, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycolic Acid
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentSalicylic Acid
MaskingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingMalic Acid
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingSoy Isoflavones
Skin ConditioningCopper PCA
HumectantZinc PCA
HumectantLecithin
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Alcohol
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingBenzoic Acid
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Bicarbonate
AbrasiveAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantResveratrol
AntioxidantUbiquinone
AntioxidantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPEG-30 Stearate
EmulsifyingOctoxynol-9
EmulsifyingBHT
AntioxidantTetrasodium EDTA
Sorbic Acid
PreservativeWater, Alcohol Denat., Glycolic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Salicylic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Soy Isoflavones, Copper PCA, Zinc PCA, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Alcohol, Polysorbate 80, Parfum, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Resveratrol, Ubiquinone, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phospholipids, Sodium PCA, Dimethicone, PEG-30 Stearate, Octoxynol-9, BHT, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with tons of research backing its benefits.
It is found naturally in sugar cane but the form used in skincare is usually synthetic for purity and stability.
Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells to allow newer and fresher ones to emerge.
AHAs work by breaking down the structural âglueâ that holds old skin cells in place. When that buildup is gone, your skin can renew itself more efficiently.
Research also shows glycolic acid stimulates collagen production, helping to firm and thicken the skin over time. This is one of its biggest advantages over other AHAs.
Overall, glycolic acid helps with:
Fun fact: Glycolic acid boosts skin hydration by helping it produce molecules that increase hyaluronic acid naturally.
To work best, glycolic acid products should have a pH between 3-4 (thatâs where exfoliation is most effective but still gentle on skin).
The pH and concentration of a product are key to its effectiveness:
It is normal to feel a slight stinging sensation when using glycolic acid. This usually fades as your skin adjusts.
Because glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in the AHA family, it can penetrate deeper, which enhances its effectiveness but also makes it more likely to irritate sensitive skin.
If your skin is very sensitive or prone to rosacea, glycolic acid may be too strong; in that case, try milder options like lactic acid or a PHA instead.
Recent studies suggest glycolic acid might even help protect against UV damage. But donât skip sunscreen! Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun.
Glycolic acid is a skincare superstar. It smooths, brightens, hydrates, and firms the skin. Unless youâre highly sensitive, itâs well worth adding to your routine.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate is a natural preservative. It comes from fermenting radish roots with a bacteria called leuconostoc.
Leuconostoc comes from lactic acid.
This ingredient has antimicrobial properties and helps prevent the growth of bacteria in a product.
Leuconostoc is used to make the traditional Korean side-dish, kimchi. It is also used to make sourdough bread (both incredibly yummy foods).
Learn more about Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment FiltratePotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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