What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Morus Alba Extract
AstringentHydrastis Canadensis Extract
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Glycerin
Humectant
Vinegar
Aloe Barbadensis Sprout
HumectantSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Propanediol, Lactic Acid, Morus Alba Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glycerin, Vinegar, Aloe Barbadensis Sprout, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Lactobionic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Salicylate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Mandelic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
