Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum Versus COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum versus COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel .

Last updated on October 31, 2023. Published on November 08, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 12 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA, BHA and PHA

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, 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.

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Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel

Serum South Korean Brand

Exfoliator South Korean Brand

Serum

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

Exfoliator

Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.

Price

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Buy Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum

Starts at $13.73

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Buy The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum 26 ingredients

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel 27 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

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum 26 ingredients

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel 27 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

AHA (2)

BHA

PHA

Exfoliators

Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating

Good For Oily Skin (3)

Redness Reducing (2)

Reduces Irritation

Skin Texture (3)

Reduces Large Pores (4)

Anti-Aging (3)

Dark Spots (3)

Scar Healing (4)

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (5)

Concerns

Drying

Irritating (3)

Rosacea (3)

Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

AHA (4)

BHA

PHA

Vitamin E

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin (2)

Reduces Irritation

Skin Texture (4)

Reduces Large Pores (5)

Anti-Aging (3)

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing (4)

Acne Fighting

Brightening (6)

Concerns

Drying

Irritating (5)

Rosacea (5)

Eczema (2)

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Ingredients Compared

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

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum 26 ingredients

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel 27 ingredients

Water • Gluconolactone • Lactic Acid • Methylpropanediol • Glycolic Acid • Potassium Hydroxide • 1,2-Hexanediol • Diethoxyethyl Succinate • Glycerin • Xanthan Gum • Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate • Acacia Senegal Gum • Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate • Glyceryl Caprylate • Niacinamide • Salicylic Acid • Allantoin • Disodium EDTA • Ethylhexylglycerin • Peat Water • Citric Acid • Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose • Capryloyl Salicylic Acid • Butylene Glycol • Potassium Sorbate • Charcoal Powder

Water • Glycolic Acid • Lactic Acid • Potassium Hydroxide • Gluconolactone • Mandelic Acid • Dipropylene Glycol • Panthenol • Salicylic Acid 2% • Methylpropanediol • 1,2-Hexanediol • Octyldodeceth-16 • Citric Acid • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Pentylene Glycol • Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Cyanocobalamin • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Capryloyl Salicylic Acid • Polysorbate 60 • Disodium Phosphate • Sodium Phosphate • Tocopherol • Allantoin • Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

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.

Water

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

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel contains this as ingredient number 1.

Gluconolactone

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

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel contains this as ingredient number 5.

Lactic Acid

What it does: Buffering, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Lactic 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 Acid

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel contains this as ingredient number 3.

Methylpropanediol

What it does: Solvent

Community Rating: Mixed

Methylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.

As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.

Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.

Learn more about Methylpropanediol

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel contains this as ingredient number 10.

Glycolic Acid

What it does: Buffering

Community Rating: Loved

Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous AHA with research to back up its benefits. Its main role is to peel the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Glycolic Acid has shown to boost collage production, a protein that helps skin stay firm. Overall, Glycolic Acid helps with improving uneven tone, rough patches of skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. It also increases skin hydration by playing a role in creating molecules that create hyaluronic acid naturally.

When applying Glycolic Acid, it is normal to feel slight stinging. The pH value and concentration of glycolic acid play a role in the effectiveness of the product.

Recent studies have shown Glycolic Acid may protect the skin against UV damage. However, you should always wear SPF, especially when using exfoliants.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Glycolic Acid

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel contains this as ingredient number 2.

Potassium Hydroxide

What it does: Buffering

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Potassium 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 Hydroxide

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel contains this as ingredient number 4.

1,2-Hexanediol

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Mixed

1,2-Hexanediol is a multi-tasker ingredient. It acts as a preservative to increase shelf-life and can aid other preservatives in preventing microbe growth. 1,2-Hexanediol also helps the skin retain moisture as a humectant.

In products that are water-based, this ingredient can help stabilize perfumes and fragrances. It can also help make the texture of products softer and more smooth.

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel contains this as ingredient number 11.

Salicylic Acid

What it does: Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Salicylic 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 Acid

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel contains this as ingredient number 9.

Allantoin

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing

Community Rating: Loved

Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.

Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.

Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Learn more about Allantoin

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel contains this as ingredient number 26.

Ethylhexylglycerin

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel contains this as ingredient number 20.

Citric Acid

What it does: Buffering, Masking

Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel contains this as ingredient number 13.

Capryloyl Salicylic Acid

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

We don't have a description for Capryloyl Salicylic Acid.

Isntree Hyper Acid 4 AHA BHA PHA LHA 30 Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.

COSRX The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel contains this as ingredient number 21.

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