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Gluconolactone

GluconolactoneExfoliant

A gentler exfoliating acid. One review says it works like glycolic or lactic acid with less irritation, and it pulls in water too.

What it does

It’s the most popular of the PHAs, a gentler family of exfoliating acids. A review says they work like glycolic and lactic acid with less irritation, and also pull water into skin. In one small test, skin treated with 8% glycolic acid formed more sunburned cells after UV; 8% gluconolactone did not.

The EU’s ingredient database lists it as a skin conditioner, its general term for an ingredient that keeps skin in good condition.European Commission, CosIng (© European Union, CC BY 4.0) · uses put in plain words by Drop ↗

The evidence, graded

expert consensusThe FDA says how much an AHA exfoliates depends on the type and strength of the acid, its pH, and the other ingredients. An industry safety panel judged glycolic and lactic acid safe at 10% or less with a pH of 3.5 or higher, to limit irritation. Lactic acid moisturizes better when it is partly or fully neutralized. No source Drop has read gives a pH below which an AHA starts to exfoliate.Smith 1996 · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ↗

Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.

Also known as

PHA, polyhydroxy acid

Pairs worth knowing

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) · works together ↗Hyaluronic Acid · works together ↗Ceramides · works together ↗Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5) · works together ↗

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