Dermalogica Skin Resurfacing Lactic Acid Cleanser Versus Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum

Dermalogica Skin Resurfacing Lactic Acid Cleanser Versus Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum

This lactic acid gel cleanser is formulated around Lactic Acid to exfoliate and smooth skin.

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

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate

Lactic Acid

PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide

Sodium Cocoamphoacetate

Acrylates/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer

Glycol Distearate

Propanediol

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil

Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil

Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil

Rosa Damascena Flower Oil

Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil

Citrus Limon Peel Oil

Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil

Cymbopogon Martini Oil

Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf Oil

Citrus Limon Peel Extract

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

Tocopheryl Acetate

Tocopherol

CI 77891

Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine

Pentylene Glycol

Caprylyl Glycol

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Ethylhexylglycerin

Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate

Sodium Hydroxide

Citric Acid

Benzalkonium Chloride

Linalool

Eugenol

Limonene

Citronellol

Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Lactic Acid, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Acrylates/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Glycol Distearate, Propanediol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, CI 77891, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Benzalkonium Chloride, Linalool, Eugenol, Limonene, Citronellol

Squalane

Glycerin

Cetearyl Olivate

Sorbitan Olivate

Cetearyl Alcohol

Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Acacia Senegal Gum

Sodium Gluconate

Xanthan Gum

Phenoxyethanol

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lactic Acid, Squalane, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetearyl Olivate, Propanediol, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Linalool

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.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.

Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.

In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.

While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.

Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.

This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.

This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.

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.

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:

Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.

Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.

This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.

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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

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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