What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Limon Juice
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower
Skin ConditioningLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Cinnamomum Camphora Wood Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Pyrus Malus Juice, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Gluconolactone, Citrus Limon Juice, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Bakuchiol, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Phytate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora Wood Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Sclerotium Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Amylopectin
CI 75120
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycolic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sclerotium Gum, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Amylopectin, CI 75120
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlycolic 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 AcidHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate is a modified starch used to help thicken a product.
It is also used in foods.
Lactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidSclerotium Gum is a polysaccharide gum made by the fungus, Sclerotium rolfssii. It is similar to xanthan gum.
In cosmetics, Sclerotium Gum is used to thicken the texture and to help stabilize other ingredients.
As an emulsifier, Sclerotium Gum helps prevent ingredients from separating, such as water and oil.
Learn more about Sclerotium GumSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide
