SEPHORA COLLECTION Gentle Exfoliating Peeling Serum with Niacinamide + Lactic Acid
Works for
Anti-blemishNiacinamideWorks well
“ONLY AT SEPHORA What it is A lightweight, gentle serum formulated with niacinamide and lactic acid to exfoliate, reduce the appearance of blemishes, and tackle congested pores to reveal a glowing complexion.”
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: niacinamide. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Evens skin toneNiacinamide, Lactic acidWorks well
“Clinical Results In a scientific test performed on 32 volunteers, after 28 days of use , 31% more even complexion , 28% smoother skin”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: niacinamide
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.
MoisturizingNiacinamide, Glycerin + 8 moreWorks well
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:
glycerin, trehalose.
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: squalane, dicaprylyl carbonate.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: niacinamide
ExfoliationLactic acidNot delivered
“Gentle Exfoliating Peeling Serum with Niacinamide + Lactic Acid”
This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.
Anti-agingNot advertised by the brand · Niacinamide, Tocopherol + 1 moreWorks well
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains niacinamide.
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.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy4 flagged ingredientsLow 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%
Dicaprylyl carbonate~4.7–7.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin
More about Dicaprylyl carbonateGlycerin~3.7–5.6%
- 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 GlycerinNiacinamide~2.8–4.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
More about NiacinamidePropanediol~2.1–3.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolLactic acid~1.7–2.6%
- 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 acidPentylene glycol~1.5–2.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
More about Pentylene glycolAmmonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer~1.2–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Increases thickness of a product. Texture enhancer for oil-in-water emulsions
More about Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymerSqualane~1.1–1.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.
More about SqualaneC14-22 alcohols~0.8–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that helps stabilize product formulations
More about C14-22 alcoholsSilica~0.9–1.35%
Sodium hydroxide~0.4–0.95%
Trehalose~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A sugar that attracts water to the upper layer of the skin
More about TrehaloseStearalkonium hectorite~0.35–0.75%
C12-20 alkyl glucoside~0.3–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil mix together
More about C12-20 alkyl glucosideGlyceryl caprylate~0.2–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that can also help water and oil mix together, as well as prevent bacteria growth in products
More about Glyceryl caprylateTocopherol~0.15–0.6%
- 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 TocopherolMaris aqua~0.15–0.5%
Sea water~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Dissolves other ingredients. It does not have additional skin benefits compared to plain water
More about Sea waterXanthan gum~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumPropylene carbonate~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is used to dissolve other ingredients and create nice product texture
More about Propylene carbonateSodium benzoate~0.05–0.25%
Sodium phytate~0.05–0.2%
Phenethyl alcohol~0.05–0.2%
Hydrolyzed rhodophyceae extract~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Ingredient list view
Water, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Lactic acid, Pentylene glycol, Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, Squalane, C14-22 alcohols, Silica, Sodium hydroxide, Trehalose, Stearalkonium hectorite, C12-20 alkyl glucoside, Glyceryl caprylate, Tocopherol, Maris aqua, Sea water, Xanthan gum, Propylene carbonate, Sodium benzoate, Sodium phytate, Phenethyl alcohol, Hydrolyzed rhodophyceae 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.
| SEPHORA COLLECTIONGentle Exfoliating Peeling Serum with Niacinamide + Lactic AcidYOUR PRODUCT | It CosmeticsBye Bye Breakout Salicylic Acid Acne Serum | Kri SkincareIllume Niacinamide Serum | EnvironFocus Care Radiance+ Vita-Botanical Mela-Fade Serum System | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 87% | 86% | 85% |
| Price | — | $36.00 | $16.04 | $92.23 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 5 | 2 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Key difference | — | Salicylic Acid | — | Panthenol |
| Irritancy | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: InstaNatural Dark Spot CorrectorFacetheory Hyaluret Serum S13
Product summary
"SEPHORA COLLECTION - Gentle Exfoliating Peeling Serum with Niacinamide + Lactic Acid" is effective for: Anti-blemish, Evens skin tone, Moisturizing and Anti-aging
Ingredient callouts
- A good concentration of Niacinamide (2.80% - 4.20%). Niacinamide is a well-studied multi-tasking active. It is stable, and can work well in almost any hydrating formulation. There is solid evidence that Niacinamide can help support skin barrier, regulate oil production and reduce acne and clogged pores. It also helps to fight photodamage and improve the skin tone, reducing pigmentation marks.
- This product contains acids (lactic acid 1.70% - 2.60%). Their concentration is low, and they will not have a strong exfoliating effect. Instead, they work to support the skin natural acid mantle and to attract water (as humectants). Lactic acid is particularly good in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin and improving the skin barrier.
- Humectants (trehalose 0.35% - 0.85% and glycerin 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 10 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 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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