Summer Fridays Gentle Reset Daily Exfoliating Pads Versus Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Glycolic Essence
This smoothing exfoliating pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Gluconolactone and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening essence is formulated around Glycolic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Chelating
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
ChelatingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gluconolactone, Pentylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Panthenol, Glycolic Acid, Betaine Salicylate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Glycerin, Caffeine, Betaine, Allantoin, Arginine, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide, C12-14 Alketh-12
Water
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingVitis Vinifera Juice
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenylpropanol
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Phytate
ChelatingLinalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Vitis Vinifera Juice, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Arginine, Sodium Benzoate, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Phenylpropanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Phytate, Linalool, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 “glue” 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 (that’s 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 don’t 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 you’re highly sensitive, it’s well worth adding to your routine.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidSodium 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 HydroxideSodium Phytate is the sodium salt of Phytic acid, a compound that plants store phosphorus in. It's the plant-derived alternative to ingredients like Disodium EDTA.
In skincare, this ingredient is a chelator that grabs onto trace metal ions like iron and copper that sneak into formulas through water/raw materials.
Those metals speed up oxidation so binding them keeps oils, fragrance, and actives from going off, stops color changes, and helps the preservative system work harder.
Survey data shows usage levels range from 0.0099%-0.5% in leave-on products, 0.025%-0.3% in rinse-off, and up to 0.05% in eye-area products. Suppliers typically recommend a range between 0.05-0.5%.
Learn more about Sodium PhytateWater. 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
