Icon Skin 15% Power Peptide Peel Versus The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

Icon Skin 15% Power Peptide Peel Versus The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

This smoothing treatment is formulated around Mandelic Acid and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles.

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

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Isopentyldiol

Glycerin

Mandelic Acid

Lactic Acid

Succinic Acid

Butylene Glycol

Gluconolactone

Ferulic Acid

Croton Zambesicus Powder

Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Solidago Virgaurea Extract

Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract

Bellis Perennis Flower Extract

Cellulose Gum

Caprylyl Glycol

Benzyl Alcohol

Xanthan Gum

Inulin

Cellulose

Glucose

Fructose

Propylene Glycol

Parfum

Water, Isopentyldiol, Glycerin, Mandelic Acid, Lactic Acid, Succinic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Ferulic Acid, Croton Zambesicus Powder, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Solidago Virgaurea Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Cellulose Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Inulin, Cellulose, Glucose, Fructose, Propylene Glycol, Parfum

Glycolic Acid

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water

Sodium Hydroxide

Daucus Carota Sativa Extract

Propanediol

Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine

Salicylic Acid

Tartaric Acid

Citric Acid

Panthenol

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract

Pentylene Glycol

Polysorbate 20

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Ethylhexylglycerin

1,2-Hexanediol

Glycolic Acid, Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Propanediol, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol

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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.

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.

Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.

Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).

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!

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

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