Farmacy Deep Sweep Toner Versus Summer Fridays Soft Reset AHA Exfoliating Solution

Farmacy Deep Sweep Toner Versus Summer Fridays Soft Reset AHA Exfoliating Solution

This pore-care toner is formulated around Salicylic Acid to refine the look of pores and refine skin texture.

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

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Arginine

Salicylic Acid

Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract

Moringa Oleifera Leaf Water

Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Water

Chlorella Ferment

Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Lactic Acid

Glycerin

Butylene Glycol

Xylitylglucoside

Anhydroxylitol

Xylitol

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Gluconolactone

Maltodextrin

Glucose

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Water, Arginine, Salicylic Acid, Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Water, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Water, Chlorella Ferment, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Gluconolactone, Maltodextrin, Glucose, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate

Propanediol

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Glycolic Acid

Niacinamide

Sodium Hyaluronate

Sodium Citrate

Phenoxyethanol

Citric Acid

Acer Saccharum Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract

Citrus Limon Fruit Extract

Saccharum Officinarum Extract

Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract

Chamomilla Recutita Extract

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Xanthan Gum

Caprylyl Glycol

Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Water, Lactic Acid, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Acer Saccharum Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ascorbyl Glucoside

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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.

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 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:

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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