Glossier Solution Exfoliating Skin Perfector Versus Biossance Squalane + BHA Pore-Minimizing Toner

Glossier Solution Exfoliating Skin Perfector Versus Biossance Squalane + BHA Pore-Minimizing Toner

This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and clear breakouts.

This pore-care toner is formulated around Salix Alba Bark Extract and Squalane to refine the look of pores and balance excess oil.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Sodium Hydroxide

Lactic Acid

Glycolic Acid

Gluconolactone

Propanediol

Pentylene Glycol

Magnesium Chloride

Glycerin

Salicylic Acid

Niacinamide

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Ethylhexylglycerin

Citric Acid

Phytic Acid

Polysorbate 20

Amylopectin

Polydextrose

Dextrin

Caprylyl Glycol

Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Gluconolactone, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Magnesium Chloride, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Phytic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Amylopectin, Polydextrose, Dextrin, Caprylyl Glycol

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water

Squalane

Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer

Betaine Salicylate

Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water

Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water

Sodium Hyaluronate

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract

Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract

Amber Powder

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Sodium Chloride

Sodium Gluconate

Sodium Benzoate

Potassium Sorbate

Pelargonium Graveolens Oil

Citronellol

Water, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Glycerin, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Squalane, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Betaine Salicylate, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Amber Powder, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citronellol

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.

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.

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!

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