The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Revealing Tonic
Works for
ExfoliationLactic acid, Salix alba bark extractWorks well
“This refreshing, golden-hued toner gently exfoliates and brightens the appearance of 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.
Evens skin toneLactic acid, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acidWorks well
“Helps to even the look of skin tone and texture”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: 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: 3-o-ethyl ascorbic 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-agingSide benefit · Lactic acid, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic 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.
MoisturizingSide benefit · Glycerin, Lactic acid + 3 moreWorks
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-oxidationSide benefit · 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, Salix alba bark extract + 1 moreMay help
This product contains antioxidants (3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid) 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?
Irritancy4 strong irritants: Parfum, Carica papaya fruit extract + 2 more — patch-test recommendedHigh 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 GlycerinLactic acid~3.5–5.2%
- 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 acidPhenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolDecyl glucoside~2.2–3.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating
More about Decyl glucoside3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid~1.6–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Can help neutralize free radicals and help reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
More about 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acidSodium citrate~1.4–2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve products
More about Sodium citrateSodium hydroxide~1.2–1.8%
Caprylyl glycol~1–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolPolysorbate 20~0.85–1.25%
Salix alba bark extract~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It contains a compound salicin that can theoretically be converted into salicylic acid that, in turn, helps reduce inflammation in skin, but the evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking and the extract is usually not used in a concentration that would enable an exfoliating effect
More about Salix alba bark extractTrisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate~0.45–1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to improve stability of the formulation
More about Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinateAloe barbadensis leaf juice powder~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
More about Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powderMyrciaria dubia fruit extract~0.3–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin, but research on its effectiveness is lacking
More about Myrciaria dubia fruit extractParfum~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumCarica papaya fruit extract~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- High
Mangifera indica fruit extract~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A fruit extract that might help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. There is no evidence of other benefits in skin
More about Mangifera indica fruit extractLimonene~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
More about LimoneneBenzyl salicylate~0.05–0.25%
Leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A preservative that comes from radishes fermented by a bacteria. New research suggests that the preservation properties in the ingredient come from an ammonium salt that is not present naturally in radish root but used in its cultivation. Is problematic because the exact amount of the preservative agents is difficult to determine
More about Leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrateCi 19140~0.05–0.15%
Ci 14700~0.05–0.15%
Ingredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Lactic acid, Phenoxyethanol, Decyl glucoside, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, Sodium citrate, Sodium hydroxide, Caprylyl glycol, Polysorbate 20, Salix alba bark extract, Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder, Myrciaria dubia fruit extract, Parfum, Carica papaya fruit extract, Mangifera indica fruit extract, Limonene, Benzyl salicylate, Leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, Ci 19140, Ci 14700
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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.
| The Body ShopVitamin C Glow Revealing TonicYOUR PRODUCT | Wish FormulaBubble Bubble Chef Cushion: Peeling Pad 1pc + Peeling Base X 4 | NaturiumVegan Lactic Acid Emulsion 5% | STARSKINGlowstar Foaming Peeling Puff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 63% | 62% | 57% |
| Price | $26.00 | $18.70−$7.30 | — | $8.60−$17.40 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 |
| Key difference | — | Glycolic Acid | Niacinamide | Glycolic Acid |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Low | High |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: BABOR REFINE RX AHA 10+ 10 Peeling GelMDO The Exfoliant
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 9 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
- 4
- 5
- 6Efficacy and Safety of White Willow Bark (Salix alba) Extractonlinelibrary.wiley.com
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