This smoothing toner is formulated around Gluconolactone and Niacinamide to refine skin texture and calm redness.
This pore-care exfoliator is formulated around Gluconolactone and Lactic Acid to refine the look of pores and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Succinic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Swertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingDimethyl Sulfone
SolventMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Vinyldimethicone
Betaine
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dextrin
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Betaine Salicylate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Succinic Acid, Lactic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Allantoin, Swertia Japonica Extract, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Beta-Glucan, Potassium Hydroxide, Dimethyl Sulfone, Maltodextrin, Vinyldimethicone, Betaine, Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dextrin, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidWater. 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
