This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Lactobionic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Magnesium Oxide
AbsorbentGlycerin
Humectant
Oleth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Zeolite
AbsorbentPolylactic Acid
Abrasive
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Menthol
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Copper PCA
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Cera
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
CI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Magnesium Oxide, Glycerin, Oleth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Zeolite, Polylactic Acid, Trihydroxystearin, Water, Mentha Piperita Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Squalane, Menthol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Zinc Oxide, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Papain, Bromelain, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Copper PCA, Dimethicone, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Alcohol Denat., Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Cera, Limonene, CI 77289, CI 42090, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Alumina
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Hydroxide
BufferingArginine
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
PEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Dehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Algin
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycolic Acid, Alumina, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Isononyl Isononanoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Hydroxide, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Lactobionic Acid, Papain, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, PEG-75 Stearate, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Algin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, CI 19140, CI 14700
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePapain is a proteolytic enzyme extracted from unripe papaya fruit. It is a gentle exfoliator that helps remove the dead skin cells from your outermost layer of skin.
Basically, papain works by dissolving the "glue" holding dead skin cells to your skin's surface. This also promotes cell turnover and smooths texture.
Unlike other exfoliants, papain can work without causing significant irritation.
Beyond exfoliation, its proteolytic action also helps soothe irritated skin and supports the healing of minor wounds.
A 2024 in vivo/in vitro study confirmed its potential to suppress skin inflammation and improve transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in atopic dermatitis models.
Just one thing worth noting: there are reports of allergic responses in individuals with a papaya or latex sensitivity. Be sure to patch test if you're in this camp.
Learn more about PapainPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
