Minimalist Nonapeptide + AHA 6% Underarm Roll-On Versus Cyklar Mandelic Acid Brightening Deodorant Gel
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
2-Methyl 5-Cyclohexylpentanol
Skin ConditioningDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Mandelic Acid, Triethyl Citrate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Propanediol, Glycolic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Salicylic Acid, 2-Methyl 5-Cyclohexylpentanol, Decylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Pentylene Glycol, Nonapeptide-1, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Shikimic Acid
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Octenidine Hcl
AntimicrobialSodium Phytate
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Vanillin
Masking
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Myroxylon Pereirae Oil
Masking
3-Methyl-5-(2,2,3-Trimethyl-3-Cyclopentenyl)Pent-4-En-2-Ol
Perfuming
Benzyl Cinnamate
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Mandelic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Parfum, Azelaic Acid, Magnesium PCA, Zinc PCA, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Shikimic Acid, Panthenol, Octenidine Hcl, Sodium Phytate, Calcium Gluconate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 60, Phenoxyethanol, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Phosphate, Disodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Benzyl Benzoate, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Hexyl Cinnamal, Vanillin, Linalyl Acetate, Linalool, Limonene, Myroxylon Pereirae Oil, 3-Methyl-5-(2,2,3-Trimethyl-3-Cyclopentenyl)Pent-4-En-2-Ol, Benzyl Cinnamate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseMandelic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA).
Like other AHAs, it helps exfoliate the surface of the skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
Mandelic acid helps with:
Due to it having a larger molecular size than glycolic acid, mandelic acid is able to penetrate the skin more slowly and evenly. This makes it gentler and less irritating, making it a great option for sensitive or beginner skin.
Despite being milder, mandelic acid is still an effective exfoliant that improves skin texture and tone over time.
What makes mandelic acid stand out from other AHAs? It has antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
These traits make it a great option for acne-prone or problem skin by reducing active breakouts and fading post-acne marks. Studies show that mandelic acid (especially when combined with salicylic acid) can significantly reduce pimples and hyperpigmentation while causing fewer side effects than stronger acids.
Mandelic acid is effective in concentrations of 5% and up with an ideal pH range of 3-4 for at-home use.
Like other AHAs, it’s important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your newly exfoliated skin.
However, unlike glycolic acid, mandelic acid is light-sensitive. Be sure your mandelic acid is packaged in opaque containers to ensure it stays stable and effective.
In short, mandelic acid is a gentle yet powerful AHA that exfoliates, brightens, and helps clarify skin while keeping irritation low. Its antibacterial action makes it especially beneficial for those with acne-prone, sensitive, or uneven skin, offering smoother, clearer, and more even-toned results over time.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Mandelic AcidPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPropanediol 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 PropanediolWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
