medik8 Sleep Glycolic
medik8 Medik8 Sleep Glycolic lists 17 ingredients on its label, 16 decoded. See what each one does, its irritancy and comedogenic tendency, and its status in national inventories.
Ingredients overview
Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.
Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.
- Aqua
- Glycolic Acid
- Cyclodextrin
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
- Dimethicone
- Glyceryl Stearate
- Sucrose Stearate
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Glycerin
- Phenoxyethanol
- Lespedeza Capitata Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
- Propanediol
- Xanthan Gum
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
- Polysorbate 60
- Sorbitan Isostearate
Highlights
Free of alcoholFree of fragranceFree of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains siliconesContains PEG
Formulation view This high-concentration glycolic acid product uses water and cyclodextrin to encapsulate the acid, with light oils and silicones adjusting texture. Thickening relies on xanthan gum and emulsifiers, supplemented by botanicals and moisturizers. It suits tolerant skin types needing exfoliation. Formulators observe that cyclodextrin enhances acid stability in the emulsion, while light oils mitigate dryness, making it easier for daily application.
Key ingredients
- SOLVENT
- Aqua
- BUFFERING
- Glycolic AcidSodium Hydroxide
- ABSORBENT
- Cyclodextrin
- FRAGRANCE
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
- ANTIFOAMING
- Dimethicone
- SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT
- Glyceryl StearateSucrose Stearate
Other ingredients
GlycerinPhenoxyethanolLespedeza Capitata Flower/Leaf/Stem ExtractPropanediolXanthan GumEthylhexylglycerinHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate CopolymerPolysorbate 60Sorbitan Isostearate
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua | SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Glycolic Acid | BUFFERING | 2 · 0 | Green |
| Cyclodextrin | ABSORBENT, CHELATING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride | FRAGRANCE, SOLVENT, PERFUMING, SKIN CONDITIONING - OCCLUSIVE | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Dimethicone | ANTIFOAMING, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SKIN CONDITIONING, SKIN PROTECTING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Glyceryl Stearate | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sucrose Stearate | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · – | Green |
| Sodium Hydroxide | BUFFERING, DENATURANT · 限制 III/15a | 3 · – | Green |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Phenoxyethanol | ANTIMICROBIAL, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/29 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Lespedeza Capitata Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Propanediol | SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Xanthan Gum | BINDING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, EMULSION STABILISING, GEL FORMING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Ethylhexylglycerin | DEODORANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer | EMULSION STABILISING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Polysorbate 60 | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 1 · – | Green |
| Sorbitan Isostearate | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING | 0 · 1 | Green |
Ingredients explained
- Aqua
- Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical
- Glycolic Acid
- Glycolic acid for exfoliation; requires buffering at concentrations >10%, avoid combination with other acids.
- Cyclodextrin
- Cyclodextrin; used as a stabilizer or solubilizer to improve solubility of active ingredients and fragrances
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
- Light occlusive and solvent at 1–10%; non-greasy feel, suitable for oily and combination skin
- Dimethicone
- Silicone occlusive at 1–5%; provides smooth feel, non-penetrating, suitable for sensitive skin
- Glyceryl Stearate
- Emulsifier at 1-3%; may require acid to prevent saponification
- Sucrose Stearate
- Succrose ester emulsifier/emolient with cleansing properties; HLB determines emulsion type.
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Phenoxyethanol
- Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin
- Lespedeza Capitata Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
- Not decoded yet
- Propanediol
- Polyol solvent at 1–5%; light feel, aids solubilization, propylene glycol alternative
- Xanthan Gum
- Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel
- Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
- High-molecular-weight thickener and emulsion stabilizer; requires electrolytes or acid adjustment near isoelectric point for optimal performance.
- Polysorbate 60
- Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer for O/W or W/O stability; may cause mild stinging on sensitive skin, typically 1-5%.
- Sorbitan Isostearate
- Non-ionic emulsifier (low HLB); typically used in blends, low comedogenicity, soft skin feel.
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-20. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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