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The Ordinary Glycolic Acid
A toning and exfoliating solution including amino acids, aloe vera, ginseng, and Tasmanian pepperberry together with 7% glycolic acid.
One company, The Ordinary, stands out in the crowded skincare market for its straightforwardness and scientifically sound methodology. Numerous skincare products on the market claim glowing results. The Ordinary has gained a devoted following of skincare fans looking for simple yet effective treatments because of its emphasis on transparency and potent ingredients. One element stands out among their wide range of products: glycolic acid.
One of the pillars of The Ordinary's philosophy is glycolic acid, a superstar among chemical exfoliants. The Ordinary, with its constant dedication to using premium ingredients at reasonable rates, makes use of Glycolic Acid's powerful advantages to produce life-changing effects. This introduction looks at the astonishing consequences of and the enticing charm of The Ordinary GLYCOLIC ACID.
Overview of ingredients
Aqua (Water), Glycolic Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Aminomethyl Propanol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/​Leaf Extract, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glutamic Acid, Arginine, Pca, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Urea, Hexyl Nicotinate
Introduction to the Power of The Ordinary Glycolic Acid
In this article
Highlights
pH 3.00-6.00
alcohol-free
oil-free
silicone-free
vegan
gluten-free
cruelty-free
Antioxidant: Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/​Leaf Extract
Exfoliant: Glycolic Acid
Skin-identical ingredient: Glycerin, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Pca, Sodium PCA, Urea
Soothing: Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/​Leaf Extract, Sucrose
Buffering: Glycolic Acid, Triethanolamine, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Lactate
Emollient: Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Hexyl Nicotinate
Moisturizer/humectant: Propanediol, Glycerin, Histidine, Glutamic Acid, Pca, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Urea
Solvent: Aqua (Water), Propanediol
Ingredients
Ingredients explained
ALSO-CALLED: Water | WHAT-IT-DOES: solvent
The unsung star in skincare and cleaning products is aqua, also known as water. The most typical component of skincare. The majority of the time, it appears right at the top of the ingredient list, indicating that it is the greatest component of the product.
It mostly serves as a solvent for substances that prefer to dissolve in water rather than oils. Aqua satisfies the skin's thirst and replaces moisture that has been lost while acting as a gentle and efficient moisturizing agent in skincare. It is suitable for all skin types, including those with sensitive or acne-prone skin, because of its light weight and non-comedogenic properties.
Aqua acts as a crucial carrier in cleaning goods, dissolving pollutants and delicately removing filth and grime. Its solvent qualities make it the ideal foundation for mild cleansers that remove impurities from the face without removing its natural oils.
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid
WHAT-IT-DOES: buffering and exfoliant
It is the AHA with the most conclusively demonstrated skin benefits. Dead skin cells are gently lifted off to show newer, fresher skin that is smoother. It helps promote the skin's natural collagen production, which leads to tighter, younger skin. It can lighten brown spots brought on by PIH or sun damage. Choose a product whose concentration and pH value you are aware of because these two have a significant impact on effectiveness. Don't forget to use sunscreen (always, but particularly after using an AHA product). With a stronger AHA product, a little stinging or burning is typical. Choose a BHA or PHA product if your skin is particularly sensitive and prone to rosacea.
ALSO-CALLED: Damask Rose Flower Water, Rose Hydrosol
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
The flower nectar produced by Damask Rose blossoms. In general, floral waters, also known as hydrosols, are diluted versions of the same plant's essential oils. They have the same ingredients, but in much lower amounts. Rose water has a wonderful, calming smell, just like its bigger sister, rose oil. Along with some fragrant elements, it also includes some anti-oxidant and anti-microbial substances. It is a good idea to use products without floral waters with fragrance if your skin is extremely sensitive.
ALSO-CALLED: Cornflower Flower Water | WHAT-IT-DOES: soothing
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water - Goodie
Floral distillate is made from cornflowers, which are stunning blue flowers. The flowers contain polysaccharides, primarily galacturonic acid, arabinose, glucose, rhamnose, and galactose, which have anti-inflammatory and calming qualities and are widely used in European phytotherapy to treat mild eye inflammations. Propanediol, also known as Zemea, serves as a solvent and humectant.
WHAT-IT-DOES: humectant and antioxidant
Aloe vera is the popular name for a species of desert plant called Aloe barbadensis. Aloe vera plants are succulents because they hold water in their leaves. Aloe barbadensis leaf juice is the name of the extract made from this plant's leaf juice. Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder is made by drying the juicy leaves. It has a lot of anti-inflammatory ingredients and is a great moisturizer. The succulent plant Aloe barbadensis has luscious interiors. It has numerous advantages, particularly for skin types like dry, damaged, cracked, or sensitive skin. It has calming, anti-itching, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and humectant effects.
ALSO-CALLED: Zemea | WHAT-IT-DOES: solvent, moisturizer/humectant
Propanediol
Propanediol is a natural substitute for propylene glycol, which is frequently used but also criticized. It is made from corn sugar in a sustainable manner. It can be used as a solvent, to increase the effectiveness of preservatives, to improve skin moisturization, or to change the sensory qualities of the final composition.
WHAT-IT-DOES: ALSO-CALLED: Glycerol | WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient, moisturizer/humectant | IRRITANCY: 0 | COMEDOGENICITY: 0
A natural humectant found in our skin. A very common, affordable, efficient, and safe chemical that has been in use for more than 50 years. A basic moisturizer that is much more than that: It retains our skin's lipids in a healthy (liquid crystal) state between our skin cells, guards against irritation, and aids in barrier restoration. Effective at concentrations as low as 3%, with further advantages for dry skin at 20–40% . Using high-glycerin moisturizers to treat really dry skin is fantastic.
ALSO-CALLED: TEA | WHAT-IT-DOES: surfactant/cleansing, pH stabilization, emulsifying
IRRITANCY: 0 | COMEDOGENICITY: 2
Triethanolamine functions as a pH adjuster, assisting in the stabilization of compositions' pH values. Maintaining the skin's naturally acidic pH, which supports a healthy and balanced skin barrier, is essential. Triethanolamine makes sure skincare products function well without irritating the skin or upsetting its delicate balance by adjusting pH levels. Triethanolamine, a surfactant, helps cleaning products produce thick lathers and mild foaming effects. It's a little additive that aids in adjusting the pH of a cosmetic composition to the ideal level. It has a pH of about 10, which is very alkaline (the opposite of being very acidic). Although its reputation for safety is not the finest, you shouldn't worry about it in most cases.
What is true is that TEA and so-called N-nitrogenating agents, such as preservatives like 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, 5-Bromo-5-Nitro- 1,3-Dioxane, or sodium nitrate, can combine to form unsavory carcinogens known as nitrosamines. But even without the correct formulation, TEA is not necessarily a bad guy. But let's suppose that the nitrosamines were produced because a poor combination of substances was used. Since it cannot enter the skin, you are likely fine even in that scenario. To be cautious, however, avoid the product if it contains Triethanolamine and also has the words "nitro" or "nitrate" in the name.
WHAT-IT-DOES: buffering
Aminomethyl Propanol
A substance with a high pH (basic or alkaline) that is used to adjust the cosmetic formula's pH to the desired level.
ALSO-CALLED: True Ginseng, Ginseng, Korean Ginseng | WHAT-IT-DOES: antioxidant, emollient
Panax Ginseng Root Extract - Goodie
True ginseng, ginseng, and Korean ginseng are some of its alternate names. An ancient Korean medicine that has been utilized for over 2000 years. The primary goal of skin care appears to be to improve blood circulation, which enhances skin nutrition and metabolism. Additionally, it contains ginseng saponins (ginsenosides), biologically active substances with strong antioxidant capabilities.
ALSO-CALLED: Tasmanian Pepper Extract | WHAT-IT-DOES: antioxidant, soothing
Fruit/Leaf Extract of Tasmannia Lanceolata - Goodie
Tasmanian pepper extract is another name for it. antioxidants and calming A beautiful shrub that can withstand harsh conditions is called the Tasmanian pepper. It grows in the mountains of Australia's southeast. When dried, its petite, elongated, purple-black berries resemble black pepper. Thus, the name. The berries have a couple of fantastic active ingredients for skincare. The most effective one is a substance known as polygodial, which has strong anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and antibacterial properties. Tasmanian pepper extract can significantly reduce the itching and burning sensation to a substantial extent (79% and 58% drop), virtually instantaneously (after just 5 minutes), according to the manufacturer's in-vivo (made on a real person) testing. Anthocyanins, well-known antioxidants, are also present. The berries are said to have a 3x stronger antioxidant capacity than blueberries. Rutin, a third compound included in the berries, is an anti-inflammatory substance that can fortify capillaries. This suggests that Tasmanian pepper may be able to lighten under-eye circles. An intriguing plant extract overall, with calming and antioxidant properties.
WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient
Aspartic Acid - Goodie
A non-essential amino acid that moisturizes the skin and serves as a crucial component of collagen and elastin. Additionally, it is used to buffer (adjust the pH of the cosmetic product).
Alanine - Goodie
A hydrating non-essential amino acid that is a component of skin proteins, including collagen and elastin.
WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient
Glycine - Goodie
A non-essential amino acid that the body can make on its own, but whose production declines with aging. These amino acids are the building blocks of skin proteins, including collagen and elastin. It serves as a moisturizer when you apply it all over your face, possibly in addition to that. Glycine may aid in tissue repair and wound healing, and when combined with other amino acids like leucine and proline, it may lessen the appearance of wrinkles, according to the excellent skincare site Futurederm. A number of significant and well-known peptides, such as copper-tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, or palmitoyl hexapeptide-12, are also made of this substance.
WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient
Serine - Goodie
Serine is an amino acid that is typically used in moisturizing complexes in formulas. It functions as a water-binding component and is a non-essential amino acid, which means that human bodies can generate it. There isn't much information available regarding what serine, particularly, can do for the skin, despite the fact that amino acids are generally great skincare products and play a significant role in good skin hydration.
WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient
Valine - Goodie
An important amino acid that our bodies cannot generate on their own and must obtain from outside sources, such as food, is a component of skin proteins like collagen. It is a branched-chain amino acid that, when taken as a supplement, is said to improve energy, increase endurance, and help with muscle tissue recovery and regeneration. Although the effects of valine on the skin are unclear, all amino acids must at the very least be excellent skin moisturizers.
WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient
Isoleucine - Goodie
A branch-chained, necessary amino acid that is present in foods like soy, cashew, and almond protein. It might encourage the production of proteins when taken orally. It is a skin-identical ingredient and moisturizer for skincare, much like all amino acids. It also appears to be helpful as a component for barrier mending.
WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient
Proline - Goodie
A crucial component of collagen and a non-essential amino acid that our bodies can make on their own. When paired with the amino acids glycine and leucine, it may be able to reduce wrinkles, according to some blogs.
WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient
WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient
Threonine - Goodie
An important component of collagen and elastin and a necessary amino acid. It improves the efficiency of the digestive and intestinal tracts when taken orally and aids in nutritional absorption. In terms of skincare, it is unclear what it does besides hydrate the skin.
WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient, moisturizer/humectant
Histidine - Goodie
As a semi-essential amino acid, it must be consumed in sufficient amounts to prevent the body from using up essential amino acids (which our body cannot make on its own) to synthesize it. It plays a crucial role in controlling the body's inflammatory, allergy, and immunological defense mechanisms.It's a skin moisturizer that may also offer some protection against skin infections in terms of skincare.
Phenylalanine - Goodie
An essential amino acid that the body needs from the diet but cannot manufacture on its own. Phenylalanine is used in conjunction with UVA exposure to treat vitiligo, a condition where areas of the skin lose their color.
WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient
Glutamic Acid
The non-essential amino acid glutamic acid is a little molecule that plays a crucial role in the human body as a neurotransmitter, which means that it keeps your nervous system functioning properly. In terms of their use in cosmetics, glutamic acids primarily function as humectants, moisturizers, and skin-conditioning agents (similar to other amino acids; as a side note, polyglutamic acid is claimed to be a better humectant than hyaluronic acid). Additionally, it appears to have an impact on skin barrier restoration; however, it is unclear in which direction. L-glutamic acid and D-glutamic acid, two different types of glutamic acid that are mirror images of one another (imagine your left and right hands), present a challenge. According to studies, applying D-glutamic acid to damaged skin sped up skin repair, while applying L-glutamic acid delayed skin repair. Since the industry uses both forms, it is a little unclear what you would receive from a product that only lists glutamic acid as an ingredient (however, if it is a Shiseido group product, it is likely the D-form:). In addition, glutamic acid can be converted by biological mechanisms into pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, the sodium salt of which is a pH adjuster.
WHAT-IT-DOES: moisturizer/humectant
Arginine - Goodie
One of the fundamental components of skin collagen and hair keratin, however, is this semi-essential amino acid. It is a skin hydrator and a natural moisturizing agent, and it may also hasten the healing of wounds. Arginine typically has a positive charge (cationic), which makes it effective as a film and substantive to skin and hair (those are more negatively charged surfaces). The positive charge also helps to form a complex with AHAs (AHAs like to be negatively charged and lose a hydrogen ion, thus the positive and negative ions attract each other) that results in a "time-release AHA effect" and lessens the discomfort caused by AHAs.
WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient
Pca - Goodie
Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid (ALSO CALLED) WHAT IT DOES: PCA, also known as pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, is a substance that is present naturally in human skin and is a moisturizer and humectant that is similar to skin. In fact, PCA makes up 12% of the NMF composition of normal skin, making it the second-largest NMF component of the skin after amino acids. It's a skin benefactor that helps the skin retain water and stay properly hydrated, just like other NMFs.
ALSO-CALLED: Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid | WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient, moisturizer/humectant
ALSO-CALLED: Sodium Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid | WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient, moisturizer/humectant | IRRITANCY: 0 | COMEDOGENICITY: 0
Sodium PCA - Goodie
Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid, or PCA, is a substance that is naturally present in our skin, despite the fact that its name may not suggest it. An essential skin-identical component and excellent natural moisturizer, sodium salt PCA helps the skin retain water and stay well-hydrated.
WHAT-IT-DOES: buffering, moisturizer/humectant
Sodium Lactate - Goodie
The lactic acid salt in sodium. It works wonders to hydrate the skin and is also employed to control the pH level of cosmetic formulations. It is a natural substance that has been acknowledged by ECOCERT and COSMOS.
Fructose - Goodie
Name given to fruit sugar in style. It keeps the skin moisturized and has good water-binding qualities.
WHAT-IT-DOES: moisturizer/humectant
Glucose - Goodie
A posh term for sugar. Fortunately, unlike when you consume it, it is healthy when applied to your skin. It possesses water-binding qualities, which means that it aids in maintaining the moisture in your skin.
WHAT-IT-DOES: moisturizer/humectant
Sucrose - Goodie
A kind of refined sugar, typically made from cane or beet sugar. It has water-binding qualities on the skin and keeps it moisturized.
WHAT-IT-DOES: moisturizer/humectant,soothing
Urea - Goodie
Yes, it is the substance that is naturally present in urination. in the skin, too. It is a fantastic NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. NMFs are crucial elements that support the skin's ability to retain water and remain moisturized, plump, and elastic. Compared to other components like amino acids (40%) or lactate (12%), urea makes up roughly 7% of NMFs.
What distinguishes urea from other moisturizers is that it has a variety of additional biological functions and is considered a "small-molecule regulator of epidermal structure and function." It improves skin barrier function, increases antimicrobial peptide expression, and works as a mild keratolytic agent. Some of its moisturizing impact is considered to result from urea's capacity to break down bonds in the protein filaggrin and release amino acids in the skin. A number of skin conditions, such as ichthyosis, xerosis, psoriasis, eczema, and seborrheic dermatitis, are linked to excessive dryness and a dysfunctional skin barrier, and high-percentage (10–40%) urea therapies have been proven to be useful in treating these conditions.
Overall, urea is an excellent element in any moisturizer and, like glycerin, is an oldie but a goodie.
ALSO-CALLED: Carbamide | WHAT-IT-DOES: skin-identical ingredient, moisturizer/humectant
Hexyl Nicotinate
There isn't a lot of information available regarding hexyl nicotinate. It functions as a moisturizer and emollient. This study also claims that it enhances blood flow.
WHAT-IT-DOES: emollient
