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The INKEY List Apple Cider Vinegar Acid Peel Versus Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner

The INKEY List Apple Cider Vinegar Acid Peel Versus Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner This smoothing treatment is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Salix Alba Bark Extract to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. This brightening ton

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

The INKEY List Apple Cider Vinegar Acid Peel Versus Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner

This smoothing treatment is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Salix Alba Bark Extract to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.

This brightening toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Arbutin to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycolic Acid

Glycerin

Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside

Polysorbate 20

Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract

Acetum

Sodium Hydroxide

Propanediol

Xanthan Gum

Saccharum Officinarum Extract

Lactobacillus

Phenoxyethanol

Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Maltodextrin

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract

Citrus Limon Fruit Extract

Citronellyl Methylcrotonate

Acer Saccharum Extract

Ethylhexylglycerin

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Biosaccharide Gum-1

Phytic Acid

Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Water, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Polysorbate 20, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Acetum, Sodium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Lactobacillus, Phenoxyethanol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Maltodextrin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citronellyl Methylcrotonate, Acer Saccharum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Phytic Acid, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Niacinamide

1,2-Hexanediol

Arbutin

Betaine

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Carbomer

Tromethamine

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Dextrin

Tocopherol

Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Arbutin, Betaine, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dextrin, Tocopherol

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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.

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.

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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The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

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Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Explained

  1. 01These ingredients are found in both products.
  2. 02Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
  3. 03This ingredient is also known as oat kernel oil. It's an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is great for barrier support, hydrating skin, and calming irritation.
  4. 04The fatty acid profile is dominated by linoleic acid (~22.8-43.1%), oleic acid (~31.4-51.3%), and palmitic acid (~13.9-18.8%).
  5. 05Plus, it contains ceramides, phytosterols, phospholipids, vitamin E, and avenanthramides (oat's signature anti-inflammatory polyphenols).
  6. 06One study found an oat lipid extract applied to human skin cells switched on receptors that tell skin cells to mature properly and make more barrier lipids (including a 70% boost in ceramides).
  7. 07Basically, oat kernel oil doesn't just sit on top of skin, it nudges your skin to build more its of its own barrier.
  8. 08Typical usage levels range from 1-10%.
  9. 09Note: This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to the fatty acids present.
  10. 10Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
  11. 11This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
  12. 12As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
  13. 13The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
  14. 14This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
  15. 15It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
  16. 16Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
  17. 17At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
  18. 18Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
  19. 19Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
  20. 20It plays several roles in a formula:
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
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