I used to be so excited when I discovered a dupe for Pixi Glow. Bravura Revitalising Ginseng Toner with 5% Glycolic Acid was just about the identical factor, solely cheaper. Then, they ruined it: the value went up, the scale went down… In the long run, Pixi Glow turned out methods to be the cheaper choice! Then, The Atypical got here alongside. Their Glycolic Acid 7% Firming Answer seems to be like the proper candidate to knock Pixi Glow off its throne and acquire the crown for greatest exfoliating toner on the market. Let the battle start… and the perfect toner win:
What Substances Do Pixi Glow And The Atypical Glycolic Acid 7% Firming Answer Have In Widespread?
GLYCOLIC ACID TO EXFOLIATE SKIN
Glycolic acid is probably the most well-known member of the Alpha Hydroxy Acid household, a gaggle of exfoliants derived from fruits and sugar cane (Glycolic Acid is derived from sugar cane). Glycolic acid is my fave AHA, too, as a result of it’s a multitasker:
Superior, proper? There are two catches:
- Irritation: The whole lot that removes lifeless pores and skin cells can irritate pores and skin. The decrease the dose of GA, the decrease the possibility of irritation (and its effectiveness).
- PH: A excessive ph neutralises GA, making it ineffective.
Pixi Glow has 5% Glycolic Acid at a ph of 4.1. That is pretty excessive. Roughly 1.8% of Glycolic Acid survives to exfoliates your pores and skin. The Atypical has a 7% Glycolic Acid at a ph of three.5-3.7. That is far more pleasant to Glycolic Acid. Roughly 4.4% survives unscathed. The underside line? The Atypical is more practical but in addition extra irritating.
P.S. At this dose, we’re speaking irritating for delicate pores and skin. Most individuals will have the ability to use these toners with out issues.
Associated: The Full Information To Glycolic Acid: What It Is, What It Does, And How To Use It
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ALOE VERA TO SOOTHE SKIN
Do you know that aloe is 99.5% manufactured from water? The goodies that make it so soothing and moisturizing are within the remaining 0.5%! A few of these goodies are referred to as polysaccharides they usually’re extra ample in aloe vera juice than aloe vera water. Why this issues? As a result of Pixi is utilizing a dollop of the juice and The Atypical a couple of drops of the water. That makes the Pixi toner a little bit bit extra hydrating.
Associated: Can Aloe Vera Deal with Sunburns And Stretch Marks?
HEXYL NICOTINATE
Hexyl Nicotinate is a vasodilator that “causes the blood vessels close to to the floor of the pores and skin to extend in diameter and to extend their blood circulate.” It doesn’t actually do a lot for the pores and skin however I needed to point out it as a result of it might be irritating if in case you have tremendous delicate pores and skin.
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What Else Is In These Exfoliating Toners?
NOTE: The colors point out the effectiveness of an ingredient. It’s ILLEGAL to place poisonous and dangerous substances in skincare merchandise.
- Inexperienced: It’s efficient, confirmed to work, and helps the product do the absolute best job to your pores and skin.
- Yellow: There’s not a lot proof it really works (a minimum of, but).
- Purple: What is that this doing right here?!
PIXI GLOW
- Aqua: The primary solvent within the product, it helps to dissolve different substances.
- Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract: A controversial ingredient. On the one hand, it has highly effective astringent, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. However relying on the way it’s made and the a part of the plant used, it may possibly additionally comprise irritants, like alcohol.
- Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract: It has anti-inflammatory properties that scale back redness and irritation.
- Ammonium Glycolate: It helps to only the pH of skincare merchandise.
- Glycerin: A humectant that attracts water from the air into your pores and skin to extend pores and skin’s moisture stage and preserve pores and skin softer and smoother for longer.
- Glucose: A pure sugar that binds water to the pores and skin, growing its hydration ranges.
- Fructose: It has water-binding properties that hydrate pores and skin.
- Sucrose: One other sort of sugar with water-binding properties that hydrate pores and skin.
- Urea: A humectant that’s a part of your pores and skin’s protecting barrier, it attracts and binds a truckload of moisture to your pores and skin to maintain it softer and plumper for hours. It’s so hydrating, it really works greatest for tremendous dry, tremendous dehydrated pores and skin.
- Dextrin: It helps thicken the feel of skincare merchandise.
- Alanine: An amino acid that helps pores and skin retain moisture.
- Glutamic Acid: One other amino acid with hydrating properties.
- Panax Ginseng Root Extract: A key ingredient in Korean skincare, it has highly effective antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties.
- Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that inhibits the expansion of micro organism in skincare merchandise, serving to them last more.
- Sodium Benzoate: One other preservative that helps skincare merchandise last more.
- Biotin: Also called Vitamin H, it has no recognized skincare advantages. That’s the one motive it’s getting a crimson ranking.
- Polysorbate 20: An emulsifier that helps water-based and water-based substances mix collectively.
- Perfume: Probably the most irritating ingredient utilized in skincare, it makes the toner odor good.
THE ORDINARY GLYCOLIC ACID 7% TONING SOLUTION
- Aqua (Water): The primary solvent within the product, it helps to dissolve different substances.
- Rosa damascena flower water: It has hydrating and antioxidant properties. It has additionally aromatic elements that will irritate delicate pores and skin, however in a a lot decrease dose than the important oil model. So the probabilities of irritations are decrease. That’s why it will get a yellow as a substitute of a crimson ranking.
- Centaurea cyanus flower water: Derived from cornflower, it has soothing and antioxidant properties.
- Propanediol: An alcohol that enhances the penetration of lively substances.
- Glycerin: A humectant that attracts water from the air into your pores and skin to extend pores and skin’s moisture stage and preserve pores and skin softer and smoother for longer.
- Triethanolamine: It helps to regulate the pH of skincare merchandise.
- Aminomethyl Propanol: One other pH adjuster.
- Panax Ginseng Root Extract: A key ingredient in Korean skincare, it has highly effective antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties.
- Tasmania Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract: This pure extract has highly effective antioxidant and soothing properties.
- Aspartic Acid: An amino acid that helps to assuage and hydrate pores and skin.
- Alanine: An amino acid that helps pores and skin retain moisture.
- Glycine: An amino acid that hydrates pores and skin and hastens the therapeutic course of.
- Serine: An amino acid that helps pores and skin retain moisture, so it seems to be softer and smoother.
- Valine: It improves your pores and skin’s pure moisturising issue and helps soothe pores and skin.
- Isoleucine: It binds moisture to the pores and skin, maintaining it hydrated for longer.
- Proline: It helps pores and skin preserve moisture and look youthful.
- Threonine: An amino acid that hydrates pores and skin, giving it a softer feel and look.
- Histidine: An amino acid polypeptide with antioxidant and soothing properties.
- Phenylalanine: One other hydrating amino acid.
- Glutamic Acid: One other hydrating amino acid.
- Arginine: One other amino acids with hydrating properties.
- PCA: A humectant derived from amino acids that makes pores and skin softer and smoother.
- Sodium PCA: It attracts and binds moisture to your pores and skin, serving to it to remain hydrated for longer.
- Sodium Lactate: It hydrates pores and skin and helps regulate the cleanser’s pH in addition.
- Fructose: It has water-binding properties that hydrate pores and skin.
- Glucose: A pure sugar that binds water to the pores and skin, growing its hydration ranges.
- Sucrose: One other sort of sugar with water-binding properties that hydrate pores and skin.
- Urea: A humectant that’s a part of your pores and skin’s protecting barrier, it attracts and binds a truckload of moisture to your pores and skin to maintain it softer and plumper for hours. It’s so hydrating, it really works greatest for tremendous dry, tremendous dehydrated pores and skin.
- Dextrin: It helps to thicken the feel of skincare merchandise.
- Citric Acid: It helps to regulate the pH of skincare merchandise.
- Polysorbate 20: An emulsifier that helps water-based and water-based substances mix collectively.
- Gellan Gum: It helps to boost the feel of skincare merchandise and retains them steady for longer.
- Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate: A chelating agent that neutralises the metallic ions within the water that may in any other case spoil the components.
- Sodium Chloride: A.okay.a. desk salt, it thickens the feel of skincare merchandise.
- Hexylene Glycol: It helps skincare merchandise unfold simply onto your pores and skin.
- Potassium Sorbate: A preservative that helps skincare merchandise last more.
- Sodium Benzoate: One other preservative that helps skincare merchandise last more.
1,2-Hexanediol:An artificial preservative with hydrating properties.- Caprylyl Glycol: A pores and skin conditioning agent with delicate preservative properties.
WHICH FORMULA IS BETTER?
Pixi Glow is wealthy in humectants that hydrate pores and skin with a sprinkle of antioxidants thrown in for good measure.
Associated: Why You Ought to Add Amino Acids To Your Skincare Routine
What Is The Texture Like?
What’s The Packaging Like?
Pixi Glow are available a see-through bottle with inexperienced accent that doesn’t shield glycolic acid from the sunshine that will spoil them. Retailer it someplace darkish.
The Atypical Glycolic Acid 7% Firming Answer is available in an identical see-through bottle, however with white accents. Retailer it someplace darkish, too.
How To Use Them
It doesn’t matter in the event that they’re referred to as toners. Something with Glycolic Acid is an exfoliant, so use it as such. Two or three nights every week, after cleaning. Don’t use on the identical evening as retinoids or different harsh actives, like retinol.
Which One Of The Two Ought to You Go For?
The Atypical Glycolic Acid 7% Firming Answer. It’s palms down the simplest of the 2. But when your pores and skin is severely dry and wishes one thing gentler and extra hydrating, Pixi Glow is the best way to go.
Availability
Pixi Glow (£18.00): Accessible at Boots, Cult Magnificence, Look Unbelievable, and Sephora
The Atypical Glycolic Acid 7% Firming Answer (£11.50): Accessible at Magnificence Bay, Boots, Cult Magnificence, Look Unbelievable, Sephora, SpaceNK, The Atypical, and Ulta.
Is The Atypical Glycolic Acid 7% Firming Answer A Dupe For Pixi Glow?
| PIXI GLOW | THE ORDINARY GLYCOLIC ACID TONER | |
|---|---|---|
| ACTIVE INGREDIENTS | 5% Glycolic Acid. | 7% Glycolic Acid. |
| OTHER INGREDIENTS | Aloe vera and humectants. | Aloe vera, humectants, and amino acids. |
| TEXTURE | Light-weight and runny. | Light-weight and runny. |
| PACKAGING | See-through bottle. | See-through bottle with an enormous opening. Watch out whenever you use it! |
| PERFORMANCE | Softens, smoothens, and brightens pores and skin. Works extra slowly than The Atypical. | Softens, smoothens, and brightens pores and skin. |
| IRRITATING POTENTIAL | Low. | Low. |
Sure, sure, sure! The Atypical Glycolic Acid 7% Firming Answer is a dupe for Pixi Glow. A more practical one, too! Make the change.
Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract, Glycolic Acid (5%), Ammonium Glycolate, Glycerin, Glucose, Fructose, Sucrose, Urea, Dextrin, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Biotin, Polysorbate 20, Perfume.
The Atypical Glycolic Acid 7% Firming Answer
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, Tasmania 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, Dextrin, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Gellan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol.
About Gio
Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that can assist you obtain your greatest pores and skin day ever – day-after-day. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising jargon that can assist you work out what’s well worth the splurge and what’s greatest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally supply skincare consultations that can assist you create the perfect skincare routine to your distinctive wants.
