Skin science article
The INKEY List Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Toner Versus Krave Beauty Kale-Lalu-yAHA
The INKEY List Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Toner Versus Krave Beauty Kale-Lalu-yAHA This smoothing toner is formulated around Gluconolactone and Niacinamide to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. This smoothing toner is formulated around Glycolic Ac
The INKEY List Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Toner Versus Krave Beauty Kale-Lalu-yAHA
This smoothing toner is formulated around Gluconolactone and Niacinamide to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
This smoothing toner is formulated around Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Propanediol
Gluconolactone 3%
Niacinamide 3%
Pentylene Glycol
Glycerin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Benzoate
PPG-26-Buteth-26
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
1,2-Hexanediol
Caprylyl Glycol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Citric Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
Water, Propanediol, Gluconolactone 3%, Niacinamide 3%, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
Butylene Glycol
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
Glycolic Acid
Potassium Hydroxide
Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Carum Petroselinum Extract
Chlorella Minutissima Extract
Malus Domestica Fruit Extract
Panthenol
Betaine Salicylate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Allantoin
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Bacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Malachite Extract
Polysorbate 80
Disodium EDTA
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Water, Butylene Glycol, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Glycolic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Carum Petroselinum Extract, Chlorella Minutissima Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Betaine Salicylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Bacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Malachite Extract, Polysorbate 80, Disodium EDTA
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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
Emollient, helping to soften skin
Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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.
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!