Institut Esthederm Intensive AHA Peel Serum
Works for
Anti-blemishSalicylic acid, Glycolic acidWorks well
“Combining the proprietary healing base of Cellular Water with gentle exfoliating Alpha Hydroxy Acids, the lightweight formula sloughs away dead skin cells and dulling debris on the surface layer of skin, helping to unclog pores and improve the efficacy and penetration of active ingredients.”
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: glycolic acid
ExfoliationGlycolic acid, Lactic acid + 1 moreWorks well
“Intensive AHA Peel Serum”
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, lactic acid, salicylic acid.
Evens skin toneGlycolic acid, Lactic acid + 1 moreWorks well
“As a result, cellular renewal is stimulated to reduce the appearance of discolouration and unevenness, leaving the complexion feeling soft and smooth with a brighter and more even tone.”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic 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.
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Carnosine, Laminaria digitata extract + 1 moreWorks well
This product contains antioxidants (carnosine) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
Anti-agingSide benefit · Glycolic acid, Lactic acid + 4 moreWorks well
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains glycolic acid.
These ingredients in the product can also be helpful, even though there is less evidence for their effectiveness: carnosine, lactic 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.
MoisturizingSide benefit · Propylheptyl caprylate, Lactic acid + 12 moreWorks
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
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. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
arginine, carnosine.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: arginine, propylheptyl caprylate.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy2 strong irritants: Parfum, FarnesolMedium risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Propylheptyl caprylate~4.1–6.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Propylheptyl caprylatePropanediol~3.4–5.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolGlycolic acid~2.7–4.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
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
More about Glycolic acidCitric acid~2–3.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
More about Citric acidSodium hydroxide~1.7–2.5%
Lactic acid~1.4–2.1%
- 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 acidGlycerin~1.3–2%
- 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 GlycerinSalicylic acid~0.9–1.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
More about Salicylic acidArachidyl alcohol~0.9–1.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to soften the upper layer of the skin and create a thicker product consistency
More about Arachidyl alcoholAmmonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer~0.55–1.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Increases thickness of a product. Texture enhancer for oil-in-water emulsions
More about Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymerBehenyl alcohol~0.5–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Non-drying alcohol that helps water and oil mix together. Also serves as an emollient
More about Behenyl alcoholParfum~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumArginine~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An amino acid that is naturally present in skin and helps keep it hydrated. When used together with AHAs, it can reduce their irritating effect on the skin
More about ArgininePentylene glycol~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
More about Pentylene glycolRhamnose~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together. It also helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about RhamnoseArachidyl glucoside~0.35–0.85%
Xanthan gum~0.35–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gum1,2-hexanediol~0.3–0.7%
Caprylyl glycol~0.3–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolDisodium edta~0.15–0.65%
Polyacrylamide~0.15–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to improve product texture and help oil and water mix together
More about PolyacrylamideC13-14 isoparaffin~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin, dissolve other ingredients and create a thicker product consistency
More about C13-14 isoparaffinPropylene glycol~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
More about Propylene glycolLaureth-7~0.1–0.5%
Tocopherol~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolCarnosine~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of peptide. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin combatting the sun damage
More about CarnosineDisodium adenosine triphosphate~0.1–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Farnesol~0.05–0.25%
Laminaria digitata extract~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Seaweed extract that helps the skin to attract water and make it more smooth for touch. Also shows promise of anti-aging properties, but good research is lacking at the moment
More about Laminaria digitata extractIngredient list view
Water, Propylheptyl caprylate, Propanediol, Glycolic acid, Citric acid, Sodium hydroxide, Lactic acid, Glycerin, Salicylic acid, Arachidyl alcohol, Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, Behenyl alcohol, Parfum, Arginine, Pentylene glycol, Rhamnose, Arachidyl glucoside, Xanthan gum, 1,2-hexanediol, Caprylyl glycol, Disodium edta, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 isoparaffin, Propylene glycol, Laureth-7, Tocopherol, Carnosine, Disodium adenosine triphosphate, Farnesol, Laminaria digitata extract
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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.
| Institut EsthedermIntensive AHA Peel SerumYOUR PRODUCT | FacileClear Serum | GlossierSolution | NécessaireThe Body Peel - Resurfacing Serum with 12% AHA/BHA/PHA, 1% Resveratrol + Peeling Peptide | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 94% | 92% | 92% |
| Price | — | $38.00 | $30.00 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 6 | 4 of 6 | 4 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Niacinamide | Niacinamide | Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Deviant Skincare Gentle Resurfacing Liquidcolibri skincare Exfoliate Booster
Product summary
"Institut Esthederm - Intensive AHA Peel Serum" is effective for: Exfoliation, Anti-blemish, Anti-aging and Evens skin tone
This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- Exfoliating acids (glycolic acid 3.10% - 3.70% and lactic acid 1.60% - 2.00%). In this concentration, they will have a noticeable exfoliating effect. They can also have an anti-aging effect and stimulate collagen production in a long-run. Lactic Acid can also help to attract water to the upper layer (works as a humectant).
- Salicylic acid (1.00% - 1.20%). This is an oil-soluble exfoliating acid. Because of this property, it can work inside pores and help reduce the congestion. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and is used to treat acne. Because it is a quite strong exfoliator, be careful with using this product too often: it could result in over-exfoliation.
- Humectants (carnosine 0.20% - 0.40%, arginine 0.50% - 0.75%, carnosine 0.05% - 0.15% and glycerin 1.50% - 1.80%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails for 83.44A$ in Australia, for 96.00$ in the United States and from 35.63£ up to 72.20£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 19 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Glycolic acid peel therapy – a current reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3
- 4Epidermal and dermal effects of topical lactic acidncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skinpdfs.semanticscholar.org
- 6
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