Acure Brightening Facial Scrub Versus Biossance Squalane + Glycolic Renewal Mask

Acure Brightening Facial Scrub Versus Biossance Squalane + Glycolic Renewal Mask

This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Gluconolactone to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.

This wash off mask is formulated around Glycolic Acid to exfoliate and smooth skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Juglans Regia Shell Powder

Citrus Limon Peel

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate

Laminaria Digitata Extract

Montmorillonite

Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract

Rosa Canina Fruit Extract

Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract

Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract

Punica Granatum Extract

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Argania Spinosa Callus Culture Extract

Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil

Salvia Officinalis Oil

Cymbopogon Flexuosus Leaf Oil

Lavandula Hybrida Oil

Sodium PCA

Kaolin

Lecithin

Isomalt

Cellulose Gum

Carrageenan

Glyceryl Laurate

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

Sodium Lauroamphoacetate

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

Illite

Gluconolactone

Ethylhexylglycerin

Potassium Sorbate

Phenethyl Alcohol

Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex

Water, Glycerin, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Citrus Limon Peel, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Montmorillonite, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Argania Spinosa Callus Culture Extract, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Sodium PCA, Kaolin, Lecithin, Isomalt, Cellulose Gum, Carrageenan, Glyceryl Laurate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Illite, Gluconolactone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex

Glycolic Acid

Squalane

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Stearyl Alcohol

Arachidyl Alcohol

Clay Mineral Oxides

Behenyl Alcohol

Sodium Hydroxide

Lactic Acid

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer

Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract

Saccharum Officinarum Extract

Acer Saccharum Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Xanthan Gum

Diheptyl Succinate

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract

Citrus Limon Fruit Extract

Citric Acid

Tartaric Acid

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Citrus Limon Peel Oil

Acacia Senegal Gum

Biosaccharide Gum-1

Arachidyl Glucoside

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Phenoxyethanol

Sodium Phytate

Limonene

Water, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Clay Mineral Oxides, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Kaolin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Diheptyl Succinate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Montmorillonite, Illite, Acacia Senegal Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Arachidyl Glucoside, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Limonene

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.

Illite is an exfoliant.

Kaolin is a clay. It is used for oil control and to help minimize pores. Like other clays, kaolin has the ability to absorb excess sebum or oil. This can help clean out pores and mattify the skin.

Some types of kaolin may have exfoliating properties. When water is added to kaolin, it becomes a paste with small abrasive particles.

Most kaolin is a white color, but may be pink/orange/red depending on where it comes from.

The name 'kaolin' comes from a Chinese village named 'Gaoling'. Kaolin clay comes from rocks rich in kaolinite. Kaolinite, the mineral, has a silicate layered structure. Kaolinite is formed from chemical weathering of aluminum siilicate minerals.

Besides skincare, kaolin is commonly used to make glossy paper, in ceramics, toothpaste, and as medicine to soothe stomach issues.

Montmorillonite is a clay (aluminomagnesium silicate) with strong absorption properties. It has a similar pH to skin.

This clay is named after Montmorillon in France.

Learn about other types of clay, such as Kaolin, Bentonite, or Fuller's Earth.

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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