Freck Cactus Water Cleansing Lactic Acid Toner
Works for
ExfoliationLactic acid, AllantoinWorks well
“Lactic Acid: Sloughs away dead skin and visibly minimizes discoloration.”
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: lactic acid.
Evens skin toneLactic acidWorks well
“Lactic Acid: Sloughs away dead skin and visibly minimizes discoloration.”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: lactic 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.
MoisturizingGlycerin, Lactic acid + 5 moreWorks
“Cactus Flower Extract: Intensely hydrates.”
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, lactic acid.
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).
Anti-agingSide benefit the brand mentions · Lactic acidMay help
“A rich source of antioxidants that calms the skin and fights visible signs of inflammation.”
This product contains lactic acid. This ingredient might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Cereus grandiflorus flower extract, Panax ginseng root extract + 2 moreMay help
This product contains antioxidants (cereus grandiflorus flower extract) that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin to lessen the damage it gets from the UV light (sun). There is not enough evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin though.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: MentholMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Glycerin~4–6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinButylene glycol~3.5–5.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about Butylene glycolLactic acid~2.7–4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
More about Lactic acidCereus grandiflorus flower extract~2–3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A cactus extract that can help neutralize free radicals because it contains a chemical compound called betacyanins and flavonolglycosides. Can help make the surface of the skin dryer helping make pores look smaller for a very short period of time. The concentrations usually used in cosmetics are too small to have any effect
More about Cereus grandiflorus flower extractPanax ginseng root extract~1.6–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might have some anti-inflammatory properties, but solid evidence is lacking. It can be irritating
More about Panax ginseng root extractAscophyllum nodosum extract~1.2–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Brown seaweed extract. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some antioxidant effect
More about Ascophyllum nodosum extractChenopodium quinoa seed extract~0.9–1.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Chenopodium quinoa seed extractGlycine max seed extract~0.55–1.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Oryza sativa extract~0.45–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A grain extract that helps to create a thicker product consistency. It might have some anti-oxidant properties and help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Oryza sativa extractAllantoin~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
More about AllantoinEthylhexylglycerin~0.1–0.5%
Phenoxyethanol~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolMenthol~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
Potassium hydroxide~0.05–0.2%
Ingredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Butylene glycol, Lactic acid, Cereus grandiflorus flower extract, Panax ginseng root extract, Ascophyllum nodosum extract, Unknown, Chenopodium quinoa seed extract, Glycine max seed extract, Oryza sativa extract, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Menthol, Potassium hydroxide
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| FreckCactus Water Cleansing Lactic Acid TonerYOUR PRODUCT | VotarySensitive Resurfacing Peel | Deviant SkincareGentle Resurfacing Liquid | TERESA TARMEYLactic Acid Toner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 63% | 61% | 61% |
| Price | $28.00 | $93.93+$65.93 | $52.00+$24.00 | $50.86+$22.86 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 5 | 2 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Key difference | — | Salicylic Acid | Salicylic Acid | Allantoin |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Geek Gorgeous Smooth Out LiquidBYOMA Brightening Toner
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 8 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Epidermal and dermal effects of topical lactic acidncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skinpdfs.semanticscholar.org
- 4Ginseng in Dermatology: A Reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5
- 6
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