Shani Darden Lactic Acid AHA Exfoliating Serum Versus MAKE Beauty Lactonic Lactic Acid + Vitamin C Serum
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA, hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, 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, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Shani Darden Lactic Acid AHA Exfoliating Serum 39 ingredients
MAKE Beauty Lactonic Lactic Acid + Vitamin C Serum 26 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Shani Darden Lactic Acid AHA Exfoliating Serum 39 ingredients
MAKE Beauty Lactonic Lactic Acid + Vitamin C Serum 26 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHeptyl Undecylenate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingGlyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Heptyl Undecylenate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tartaric Acid, Malic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycolic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Gluconolactone, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLactic Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pinus Strobus Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lactic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Pinus Strobus Bark Extract, Arginine, Saccharomyces Ferment, Lauroyl Lysine, Vitis Vinifera Vine Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Triethyl Citrate, Tocopherol, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterLactic 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 AcidThis ingredient is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan 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 HydroxideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolIngredient Ratings
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