This smoothing toner is formulated around Gluconolactone to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Gluconolactone and Panthenol to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Gluconolactone, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Sodium Citrate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trideceth-9, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Tromethamine
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Metaphosphate, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Propylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGluconolactone 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 GlycerinPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
