Works for
Evens skin toneLactic acid, Kojic acid + 2 moreWorks well
“It is a natural remedy for hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: kojic acid, lactic 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 uralensis 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.
ExfoliationLactic acidWorks well
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.
Anti-agingLactic acid, Camellia sinensis leaf extractMay help
This product contains lactic acid. There is some human evidence that this ingredient helps reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin elasticity and firmness, though it is smaller or less consistent than the evidence for the best anti-aging ingredients.
MoisturizingLactic acid, Camellia sinensis leaf extract + 1 moreWorks
“It is a natural remedy for hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone”
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-blemishCamellia sinensis leaf extractNot delivered
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Kojic acid, Camellia sinensis leaf extract + 1 moreWorks well
This product contains antioxidants (kojic acid) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
The following ingredients - camellia sinensis leaf extract also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy2 strong irritants: Mentha piperita oil, Lactic acidMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Lactic acid~22–33%
- 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 acidWater~12–18%
Octoxynol-10~4–6%
Kojic acid~3.7–5.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and neutralize free radicals. Can be irritating
More about Kojic acidHydroxyethylcellulose~2.9–4.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures
More about HydroxyethylcelluloseMentha piperita oil~1.7–2.5%
Beer extract~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Glycyrrhiza uralensis root extract~1.1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Licorice root extract. Might be helpful in reducing hyperpigmentation
More about Glycyrrhiza uralensis root extractSymphytum officinale leaf extract~0.9–1.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that has an anti-bacterial effect
More about Symphytum officinale leaf extractChamomilla recutita flower extract~0.4–0.95%
- 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 flower extractCamellia sinensis leaf extract~0.35–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
More about Camellia sinensis leaf extractCucumis sativus fruit extract~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Might be somewhat helpful in reducing hyperpigmentation and neutralizing free radicals but its typical concentration in a product is too low for having an effect
More about Cucumis sativus fruit extractPhenoxyethanol~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolEthylhexylglycerin~0.05–0.25%
Ingredient list view
Lactic acid, Water, Octoxynol-10, Kojic acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Mentha piperita oil, Unknown, Beer extract, Glycyrrhiza uralensis root extract, Symphytum officinale leaf extract, Chamomilla recutita flower extract, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Cucumis sativus fruit extract, 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.
| Perfect ImageLactic 50% gel peelYOUR PRODUCT | QrxQRxLabs Lactic Acid 50% Gel Peel With Kojic Acid And Bearberry & Licorice Root Extracts - Professional Grade Chemical Face Peel | Deviant SkincareGentle Resurfacing Liquid | IconixPeel & revive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 62% | 58% | 58% |
| Price | — | — | $52.00 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 2 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 3 |
| Key difference | — | Tea Extract | Salicylic Acid | Glycolic Acid |
| Irritancy | Medium | Medium | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Versed Skin Weekend GloeDermalogica breakout clearing liquid peel
Product summary
"Perfect Image - Lactic 50% gel peel" is effective for: Evens skin tone and Exfoliation
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 in a high total concentration (lactic acid 22.00% - 33.00%). This is a strong peel. It removes the top layer of the dead skin cells, revealing a "fresher" skin. It can also have an anti-aging effect and stimulate collagen production in a long-run. But we recommend to use this product with caution to avoid over-exfoliation (no more than 1-2x a week). Over-exfoliation can seriously damage your skin barrier and lead to sensitivity and even trigger pigmentation issues.
- Humectants (lactic acid 22.00% - 33.00%). 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 5 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
- 3TOPICAL TREATMENT OF MELASMAncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4
- 5
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