Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse Versus Allies of Skin Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser

Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse Versus Allies of Skin Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser Detailed comparison of Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse versus Allies of Skin Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser. This salicylic acid gel cleanser is formulated a

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Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse Versus Allies of Skin Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser Detailed comparison of Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse versus Allies of Skin Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser. This salicylic acid gel cleanser is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and unclog pores. This lactic acid gel cleanser is formulated around Lactic Acid to exfoliate and smooth skin. Water Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate Sodium Cocoamphoacetate Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine Glycerin Mandelic Acid Salicylic Acid Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil Citric Acid Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract Sodium Hydroxide Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract Yucca Schidigera Root Extract Lactic Acid Phenoxyethanol Citrus Grandis Peel Oil Maltodextrin Disodium EDTA Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract Ethylhexylglycerin Citrus Aurantifolia Oil Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil Limonene Linalool Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Mandelic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Yucca Schidigera Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Maltodextrin, Disodium EDTA, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Limonene, Linalool Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil Propanediol Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Silk Amino Acids Hydrolyzed Silk Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract Sodium Hyaluronate Lecithin Astaxanthin Xanthan Gum Lauryl Glucoside Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate Caprylyl Glycol O-Cymen-5-Ol Polysorbate 20 Tetrasodium EDTA Phenethyl Alcohol Potassium Sorbate Water, Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Propanediol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactic Acid, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Silk Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Silk, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Astaxanthin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Caprylyl Glycol, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenethyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes. Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath. However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products. Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH. In skincare formulas, citric acid can: While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants. Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations. Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger. However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure. Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is a synthetic cleansing agent, though it is derived from coconut oil. It is used to enhance the texture of products by boosting lather and thickening the texture. As a cleanser, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is mild. 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