Benefits
Promise: Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
Alpha Hydroxy Acids helps to brighten complexion and gives a gentle chemical exfoliation Witch Hazel helps refresh and soothe skin.
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: glycolic acid.
| Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| glycolic acid | HIGH |  |  |
| zinc gluconate | LOW |  | |
Other benefit: Anti-aging
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains glycolic acid.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
| Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| glycolic acid | HIGH | | |
| aloe barbadensis leaf juice | LOW | | |
| zinc gluconate | LOW | | |
Other benefit: Evens skin tone
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: glycolic acid
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
| Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| glycolic acid | HIGH | | |
| zinc gluconate | LOW | | |
Other benefit: Moisturizing
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, sodium pca.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
| Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| glycerin | HIGH | | |
| sodium pca | HIGH | | |
| aloe barbadensis leaf juice | LOW | | |
Honesty check
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Exfoliation |
Buy now
We receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no cost for you. Thank you for your support! Learn more
Potential irritants
| Ingredient | Irritancy | Skin Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| glycolic acid | | |
| hamamelis virginiana water | | |
| citrus limon peel oil | | |
Similar products & dupes
 e.l.f. Cosmetics - SuperTone Toner | e.l.f. - e.f. SuperTone With Fruit Acid | Pixi - Skintreats Clarity Tonic Clarifying Toner | Q+A - Glycolic Toner | Dr. Loretta - Micro Peel Peptide Pads | Paula's choice - 8% AHA Gel | Geek & Gorgeous 101 - Smooth Out | Skin Regimen - Glyco Lacto Peel | BYNACHT - Liquid Lullaby Soothing Toner | BABOR - Doctor BABOR Refine Rx Aha Peel Pads | Neutrogena - Stubborn Texture™ Liquid Exfoliating Treatment | |
| Price | |||||||||||
| WIMJ similarity score | 70% | 62% | 59% | 58% | 58% | 58% | 57% | 57% | 57% | 57% | |
| Key ingredients |
| Common:
Other: | Common:
Other: | Common: Other: | Common: Other: | Common: Other: | Common: Other:
| Common: Other: | Common: Other: | Common: Other: | Common: Other: |
| Irritancy | IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
|  IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
|
| Potential Irritants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| All ingredients |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ingredients & concentrations
- glycolic acid
- glycerin
- sodium pca
- zinc gluconate
| Ingredient | Estimated concentration |
|---|---|
| 40% - 60% | |
| Plain old water | |
| 6.4% - 9.7% | |
| Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin | |
| 4% - 5.9% | |
| An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid | |
| 2.7% - 4% | |
| A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating | |
| 2.2% - 3.3% | |
| One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant | |
| 1.7% - 2.5% | |
| Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin | |
| 1.4% - 2.1% | |
| Naturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer | |
| 1.1% - 1.7% | |
| A highly irritating fragrance | |
| 0.95% - 1.4% | |
| Typically used to stabilize the product formulations. It is a salt of a polyhydroxy acid (PHA) and in larger concentrations, can help shed the dead cells from the skin surface revealing smoother skin. It can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Might to be helpful against acne and clogged pores. Could be helpful in neutralizing free radicals, but solid research is missing. Due to the zinc content, might help calm down inflammation in skin | |
| 0.8% - 1.2% | |
| Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture | |
| 0.5% - 1.15% | |
| Helps oil and water mix together | |
| 0.4% - 0.95% | |
| Helps oil and water mix together | |
| 0.2% - 0.8% | |
| Used to create a thicker product consistency | |
| 0.25% - 0.5% | |
| A preservative | |
| 0.1% - 0.45% | |
| A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products | |
| 0.05% - 0.3% | |
| A preservative | |
| 0.05% - 0.15% | |
| Stabilizes the product formulation | |
| 0.05% - 0.2% | |
| Used to adjust the product's pH | |
Show more | |
Sources
- Photoprotective and antiinflammatory effects of topical glycolic acid
- Glycolic acid peel therapy – a current review
- Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skin
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Zinc salts in dermatology
- An overview of zinc and its importance in dermatology-Part II: The association of zinc with some dermatologic disorders
- Zinc, copper and manganese enhanced keratinocyte migration through a functional modulation of keratinocyte integrins
- Evaluation of the effects of topical zinc gluconate in wound healing
- A polyhydroxy acid skin care regimen provides antiaging effects comparable to an alpha-hydroxyacid regimen
- Applications of hydroxy acids: classification, mechanisms, and photoactivity
- Amended Safety Assessment of Butyl Polyoxyalkylene Ethers as Used in Cosmetics