Peach & Lily Power Cocktail Lactic Acid Repair Serum Versus The INKEY List Lactic Acid Serum

Peach & Lily Power Cocktail Lactic Acid Repair Serum Versus The INKEY List Lactic Acid Serum

This smoothing serum is formulated around Lactic Acid and Panax Ginseng Root Extract to refine skin texture and strengthen the skin barrier.

This smoothing serum is formulated around Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Lactic Acid

Tromethamine

1,2-Hexanediol

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Cetearyl Olivate

Sorbitan Olivate

Glycerin

Hydrogenated Polydecene

Jania Rubens Extract

Panax Ginseng Root Extract

Ceramide NP

Camellia Japonica Flower Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Saccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract

Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract

Saccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract

Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate

Butylene Glycol

Xylitol

Polyglutamic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Sodium Hyaluronate

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract

Phellinus Linteus Extract

Tremella Fuciformis Extract

Morus Alba Root Extract

Propanediol

Caprylyl Glycol

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Copper Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Oligopeptide-1

Oligopeptide-2

Adenosine

Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Pentylene Glycol

Ethyl Hexanediol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Water, Lactic Acid, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Jania Rubens Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Xylitol, Polyglutamic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Adenosine, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Pentylene Glycol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Sodium Hydroxide

PPG-26-Buteth-26

Phenoxyethanol

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Water, Lactic Acid, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.

Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.

This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Lactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.

Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.

Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.

Like glycolic acid, it can:

Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.

Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.

To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.

Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.

Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.

When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.

Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.

Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.

In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.

Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:

Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.

Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.

You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

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