Skinfood Acorn Pore Peptide Pad Versus Skinfood Carrot Carotene Calming Water Pad

Skinfood Acorn Pore Peptide Pad Versus Skinfood Carrot Carotene Calming Water Pad

This pore-care toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Niacinamide and Gluconolactone to refine the look of pores and refine skin texture.

This calming toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract and Beta-Glucan to calm redness and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Quercus Acutissima Fruit Extract 10%

Propanediol

Butylene Glycol

Glycerin

Niacinamide

Alcohol

Gluconolactone

Sodium Citrate

Tromethamine

Hydroxyacetophenone

PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24

1,2-Hexanediol

Hamamelis Virginiana Extract

Allantoin

Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract

Adenosine

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Castanea Crenata Shell Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Citric Acid

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract

Sodium Phytate

Dextrin

Beta-Glucan

Theobroma Cacao Extract

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil

Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil

Caprylyl Glycol

Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein

Salvia Officinalis Oil

Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Pueraria Lobata Root Extract

Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract

Oenothera Biennis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Salvia Sclarea Oil

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Oleanolic Acid

Water, Quercus Acutissima Fruit Extract 10%, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Alcohol, Gluconolactone, Sodium Citrate, Tromethamine, Hydroxyacetophenone, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Allantoin, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Adenosine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Sodium Phytate, Dextrin, Beta-Glucan, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Oleanolic Acid

Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract

Undaria Pinnatifida Extract

Maltodextrin

C12-14 Pareth-12

Saccharide Hydrolysate

Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil

Lavandula Hybrida Oil

Artemisia Vulgaris Oil

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Ethylhexylglycerin

Water, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Allantoin, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Maltodextrin, C12-14 Pareth-12, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin

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.

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.

It is a:

Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin

Emollient, helping to soften skin

Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas

Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives

Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.

Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.

It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.

Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.

This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.

Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.

Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.

Beta-Glucan is a soluble polysaccharide (a chain of glucose sugars) sourced from the cells walls of oats, baker's yeast, mushrooms, and seaweed.

It's a rare ingredient that pulls double-duty as a heavy-duty hydrator and skin-soothing repair agent.

On the surface, it acts as a humectant that holds water in place and reduces moisture loss for a plumper, smoother feel, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a great pick for calming redness or sensitive skin

The more interesting story is underneath:

Despite its large molecular size, oat beta-glucan has been shown to penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis by slipping between skin cells. Here, it interacts with fibroblasts and macrophages to nudge collagen synthesis and support wound repair.

A small 2005 split-face clinical study of 27 subjects found topical beta-glucan produced measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, height, and roughness after 8 weeks of use.

It is worth noting the trial was small and the penetration testing used frozen, irradiated skin so the anti-aging data is encouraging rather than definitive.

This ingredient gets along with pretty much everything and is typically used around 0.1-1%.

Fungal acne: This ingredient is not a food source for the Malassezia yeast because it is a glucose polysaccharide with no fatty acid or ester component.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

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.

Hydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.

This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.

This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.

Salvia Officinalis Oil is an oil.

Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.

Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.

The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).

Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.

In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.

Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:

Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.

Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.

You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.

Sodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.

Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.

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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