Mandelic Acid 10% + HA Gentle Facial Exfoliating Serum for Hydration

Ingredients

• Glycerin 9.5 ▾

  Glycerin is a naturally derived humectant—a ingredient that draws moisture from the air into your skin. It's one of the most widely used and well-studied moisturizing agents in skincare, helping skin feel softer and more hydrated.

  Benefits

  • Attracts and retains moisture in the skin
  • Improves skin hydration and softness
  • Helps strengthen skin barrier function
  • Suitable for most skin types, including sensitive skin

  Science: The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel concluded glycerin is safe as used in cosmetics across all concentrations. Research shows glycerin effectively improves skin hydration and is well-tolerated with minimal irritation risk. It is also referenced in clinical guidelines for managing inflammatory skin conditions and maintaining skin integrity.

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• Caprylyl Glycol 8.2 ▾

  Caprylyl glycol is a preservative and skin-conditioning ingredient derived from coconut oil. It helps prevent bacterial and mold growth in skincare products while also providing mild hydrating and humectant benefits to the skin.

  Benefits

  • Helps preserve product freshness and prevent contamination
  • Provides gentle humectant properties to help retain skin moisture
  • Often used as a gentler alternative to traditional preservatives

  Potential concerns

  • Rare cases of allergic contact dermatitis have been reported in sensitive individuals
  • May cause irritation in those with known sensitivity to glycols

  Science: A 200-subject repeat patch test study found no delayed hypersensitivity reactions to caprylyl glycol at typical use concentrations. However, isolated case reports of allergic contact dermatitis exist, suggesting it can act as an allergen in susceptible individuals. It is widely used in infant and sensitive-skin formulations as a preservative alternative.

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• Aqua (water) 9.8 ▾

  Water is the primary ingredient in most skincare products, serving as a solvent that dissolves and carries other active ingredients to your skin. It helps hydrate the skin surface and provides the base texture for creams, serums, and lotions.

  Benefits

  • Hydrates and plumps skin
  • Dissolves and delivers active ingredients
  • Maintains skin barrier moisture

  Science: Water is the most extensively studied skincare ingredient with a century of dermatological evidence confirming its safety and essential role in skin hydration and product formulation.

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• Propanediol 9.2 ▾

  Propanediol is a lightweight humectant—a molecule that draws water into the skin to keep it hydrated. It's also used in cosmetic formulations as a solvent and preservative booster, helping products stay stable and feel smooth on the skin.

  Benefits

  • Hydrates and moisturizes the skin
  • Improves product texture and spreadability
  • Helps preserve formulations naturally

  Science: Propanediol can be produced through bio-based fermentation (from glycerol using microorganisms), making it an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical synthesis. It is widely recognized as safe in cosmetic and food applications, with established use as both a humectant and preservative enhancer.

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• Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/leaf Extract ▾

  Analysis not yet available for this ingredient.

• Polysorbate 20 8.2 ▾

  Polysorbate 20 is a mild emulsifier and solubilizer commonly used in skincare products to help mix oil and water-based ingredients together and keep them stable. It's also used to help dissolve fragrance and active ingredients evenly throughout a formula.

  Benefits

  • Helps create stable, smooth textures by blending incompatible ingredients
  • Improves product consistency and shelf life
  • Allows even distribution of active ingredients and fragrance

  Potential concerns

  • May cause irritation or allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin
  • Can occasionally strip skin's natural oils if used in high concentrations
  • Some individuals report sensitivity to polysorbates, though this is relatively uncommon

  Science: The provided study examined polysorbate 20 as a formulation component in a clinical cancer treatment (vidutolimod), not as a cosmetic ingredient. Limited peer-reviewed data exists specifically evaluating polysorbate 20 safety in topical skincare; however, it is widely used globally and recognized as safe by major regulatory bodies (FDA, EU) at typical cosmetic concentrations (typically under 5%).

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• Pentylene Glycol 8.2 ▾

  Pentylene glycol is a lightweight humectant—a ingredient that draws water into the skin to improve hydration and texture. It's commonly used in serums, sunscreens, and moisturizers as a preservative booster and skin-conditioning agent.

  Benefits

  • Improves skin hydration by attracting moisture
  • Lightweight feel, absorbs quickly without heaviness
  • Helps preserve product stability and extends shelf life

  Potential concerns

  • Rare contact allergy reported in sensitive individuals
  • Emerging evidence suggests it may be an uncommon cosmetic allergen—if you have sensitive or reactive skin, patch test first

  Science: Safety studies show a high margin of safety at standard use levels (87–671 in adults), with minimal skin penetration due to the ingredient's volatility. However, recent dermatological reports flag pentylene glycol as an emerging contact allergen in some individuals, warranting attention for those with sensitive skin.

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• Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer 9.0 ▾

  Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a modified form of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance that holds moisture in skin. The crosslinked version is designed to stay on the skin's surface longer and provide sustained hydration, rather than absorbing deeply like standard hyaluronic acid.

  Benefits

  • Provides long-lasting hydration and moisture retention
  • Creates a smoother skin feel and texture
  • Helps plump fine lines temporarily through moisture

  Science: Limited peer-reviewed data available for this specific crosslinked variant. Standard sodium hyaluronate has an extensive safety record as a humectant in skincare, and crosslinking is a common cosmetic chemistry technique to alter performance characteristics.

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• Ethylhexylglycerin 8.2 ▾

  Ethylhexylglycerin is a preservative and antimicrobial ingredient used to prevent bacterial growth and extend shelf life in skincare products. It's a multifunctional ingredient that helps keep formulations stable and free from contamination.

  Benefits

  • Prevents bacterial contamination in products
  • Helps extend product shelf life
  • Works synergistically with other preservatives for enhanced protection

  Potential concerns

  • May not be effective against all bacterial species (notably some Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains)
  • Preservative-related sensitization possible in sensitive individuals, though uncommon

  Science: Research shows ethylhexylglycerin has broad antimicrobial activity against many common cosmetic contaminants, though effectiveness varies by bacterial species. Studies demonstrate it can work synergistically with other preservative components to enhance biofilm inhibition.

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• 2-Hexanediol 6.5 ▾

  2-Hexanediol is a humectant and preservative booster commonly used in skincare products to help retain moisture and extend shelf life. It works by drawing water into the skin while also enhancing the effectiveness of other preservatives, allowing brands to use lower amounts of traditional preservatives.

  Benefits

  • Hydrates and moisturizes skin by drawing in water
  • Helps preserve products with lower preservative levels
  • Works synergistically with other skincare ingredients like niacinamide

  Potential concerns

  • May cause cell viability concerns at concentrations above 1.0% in laboratory studies
  • Limited real-world safety data in humans at typical skincare concentrations (usually 2-5%)
  • Potential environmental concern if released into water systems

  Science: While 2-hexanediol is widely used as a preservative substitute for parabens, recent cytotoxicity studies raise questions about safety at concentrations commonly found in skincare products (>2%). However, these findings are from laboratory cell studies and may not directly translate to human skin application. Further human safety studies are needed to confirm real-world risk.

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• Sodium Hydroxide 9.0 ▾

  Sodium Hydroxide is a strong alkaline chemical used in skincare products primarily as a pH buffer to neutralize acids and adjust the product's pH to safe levels for skin. It is not an active skincare ingredient and appears only in trace amounts in finished products.

  Potential concerns

  • In concentrated form, sodium hydroxide is caustic and can cause severe chemical burns; however, in cosmetic products it is diluted and pH-buffered to safe levels
  • Undiluted or highly concentrated sodium hydroxide should never contact skin directly

  Science: The provided research discusses sodium hydroxide only in a specialized medical context (10% solution for surgical cauterization of ingrown toenails), which is not relevant to cosmetic skincare use. In properly formulated skincare products, sodium hydroxide is used in minimal concentrations solely for pH adjustment and is considered safe by regulatory bodies including the FDA and EU.

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• Dimethyl Isosorbide 8.2 ▾

  Dimethyl isosorbide is a clear liquid solvent derived from sorbitol that helps dissolve and deliver other skincare actives into the skin more effectively. It works by enhancing the penetration of beneficial ingredients and improving product texture and stability.

  Benefits

  • Enhances penetration of active ingredients into skin
  • Improves product stability and shelf life
  • Lightweight solvent that feels comfortable on skin

  Potential concerns

  • Can cause irritation or sensitization in sensitive skin at high concentrations
  • May increase skin penetration of other ingredients, which could be problematic if combined with irritating actives

  Science: Dimethyl isosorbide is recognized as a penetration enhancer in cosmetic formulations. Research shows it has relatively low solubility for certain actives (such as piroctone olamine at 9.9 mg/mL), making it suitable for specific formulation strategies targeting epidermal delivery, though peer-reviewed safety and efficacy data in skincare is limited.

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• Mandelic Acid 7.2 ▾

  Mandelic acid is a natural chemical exfoliant derived from bitter almonds that gently removes dead skin cells from the surface. It works by dissolving the 'glue' that holds skin cells together, helping to improve skin texture and clarity.

  Benefits

  • Exfoliates dead skin cells to improve skin texture and brightness
  • Helps reduce mild acne and breakouts
  • Generally gentler than stronger chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid
  • May help with hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone

  Potential concerns

  • Can cause irritation, redness, or sensitivity in some people, especially with frequent use
  • May increase sun sensitivity—sunscreen is essential when using this ingredient
  • Not suitable for very sensitive or compromised skin barriers
  • Should be introduced gradually into skincare routines

  Science: A 2022 systematic review of acne treatments found mandelic acid chemical peels effective for mild-to-moderate acne, achieving approximately 40% reduction in lesion count. However, limited peer-reviewed data exists on optimal concentrations, frequency of use, and long-term safety in everyday skincare products.

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