Works for
ExfoliationLactic acid, Mandelic acid + 1 moreWorks well
“These exfoliating pads help restore your skin's natural glow with revitalizing salicylic acid, brightening lactic acid, pore tightening witch hazel, redness reducing lemon balm, and healing plant extracts for bright, refined, and smooth 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: lactic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid.
Evens skin toneLactic acid, Mandelic acid + 2 moreWorks well
“Enriched with Lactic Acid + Plant Extracts 50 PADS Achieve bright, even-toned skin with LAURENS Brightening Skin Pads.”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: lactic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually can help even out the skin tone: glycyrrhiza glabra root extract.
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-blemishSalicylic acid, Mandelic acidWorks well
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: mandelic acid
MoisturizingLactic acidWorks
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": 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-oxidationSide benefit · Camellia sinensis extract, Glycyrrhiza glabra root extractMay help
This product contains antioxidants (camellia sinensis 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.
Anti-agingSide benefit · Lactic acidMay help
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.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy2 strong irritants: Hamamelis virginiana extract, AromaMedium 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%
Butanediol/adipic acid copolymer~6.2–9.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Lactic acid~3.7–5.6%
- 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 acidMandelic acid~2.8–4.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps shed the upper layer of dead cells from the surface of the skin revealing smoother, brighter skin. It can help to reduce hyperpigmentation. It has anti-bacterial properties, and might help to reduce blemishes, as well as fine lines and wrinkles. It is considered to be gentler than glycolic acid
More about Mandelic acidOlive glycerides~2–3.1%
Peg-8 dimethicone/polysorbate 20 crosspolymer~1.6–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Salicylic acid~0.9–1.35%
- 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 acidChamomilla recutita extract~1.1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- High
Plant extract that can have healing and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a potential allergen and can be irritating
More about Chamomilla recutita extractGlycyrrhiza glabra root extract~0.6–1.35%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
More about Glycyrrhiza glabra root extractCamellia sinensis extract~0.5–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Tea extract. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals in skin
More about Camellia sinensis extractHamamelis virginiana extract~0.45–1%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
More about Hamamelis virginiana extractSalix alba extract~0.35–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Arctostaphylos uva ursi leaf extract~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Disodium edta~0.1–0.5%
Aroma~0.05–0.3%
Phenoxyethanol~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolEthylhexylglycerin~0.05–0.15%
Ingredient list view
Water, Butanediol/adipic acid copolymer, Lactic acid, Mandelic acid, Olive glycerides, Peg-8 dimethicone/polysorbate 20 crosspolymer, Salicylic acid, Chamomilla recutita extract, Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract, Camellia sinensis extract, Hamamelis virginiana extract, Salix alba extract, Arctostaphylos uva ursi leaf extract, Disodium edta, Aroma, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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.
| LAURENSBrightening Skin PadsYOUR PRODUCT | Deviant SkincareGentle Resurfacing Liquid | Jan MariniMarini Multi-Acid Exfoliating Pads | Be MinimalistAHA PHA BHA 32% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 91% | 91% | 89% |
| Price | — | $52.00 | $95.00 | $15.65 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Key difference | — | Glycolic Acid | Glycolic Acid | Glycolic Acid |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Dermalogica breakout clearing liquid peelBarefaced Toning Pads II
Product summary
"LAURENS - Brightening Skin Pads" is effective for: Exfoliation, Evens skin tone and Anti-blemish
This product could be helpful for: Anti-aging and Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- Exfoliating acids (mandelic acid 2.80% - 4.20% and lactic acid 3.70% - 5.60%). 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 (0.90% - 1.35%). 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 (lactic acid 3.70% - 5.60%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 11 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Epidermal and dermal effects of topical lactic acidncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skinpdfs.semanticscholar.org
- 3
- 4
- 5Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6Beta Hydroxy Acidsfda.gov
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