What is Gluconolactone?

Polyhydroxy acid

Gluconolactone is a polyhydroxy acid, a larger relative of the alpha hydroxy acids. Formulators use it both as an acid and as a chelating agent that ties up trace metals in a formula. Its molecule is bigger than glycolic acid, so it behaves differently in a mix and shows up where a brand wants a lower free acid level.

What can you expect from it?

Anti-aging on par with glycolic acid, with less stinging.
12 weeks of use
Harsh cleansers dry it out and redden it less.
8% strength · 4 weeks of use

What won't it do?

Claims you often see, and what is actually true.

It isn't just a gentler glycolic acid.
Gluconolactone exfoliates or resurfaces like glycolic acid, only gentler
PHA blend results don't count for gluconolactone alone.
PHA results prove what gluconolactone does
It won't strengthen your everyday barrier.
Gluconolactone strengthens the skin barrier
Don't count on it for sun protection.
Gluconolactone is an antioxidant that protects skin from UV damage

Anything to watch out for?

A safety panel found it safe as used, and over 12 weeks it stung less than a glycolic acid routine.
There are no allergy case reports yet.
It doesn't make skin more sensitive to the sun.
Not every PHA is safe: of five, only this one cleared; the other four lack data.

How much, and for how long?

No usual range is known. The only level tried on skin is 8% in a cream, used twice a day.

Use it twice a day for 4 weeks and barrier protection shows. Anti-aging changes show at 6 and 12 weeks.

Which products feature it?

146 of the 2320 products we've checked feature this as a key ingredient. Products that disclose a concentration or list it near the top of the ingredient list come first.

Showing 1 to 12.

numbuzin
No.3 Smooth PHA Prep Bubble Pack 90ml
Key: Gluconolactone (#4 on the ingredient list · 7%), Bifida Ferment Lysate, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Official (Korean)
400:pobaek
Soft PHA Bubble Tonner
It's made for a smoother skin texture and better barrier support.
Key: Gluconolactone (#3 on the ingredient list · 3%), Ceramide, Hyaluronic Acid
Official (Korean)
24 claims, summarized
Only partly backed:
a smoother skin texture (amount unknown) · better barrier support
Don't count on:
better hydration · calmer skin
Free of:
the ingredients it lists
See each claim
claims, checked
5 types of ceramidesbacked by evidence
10 types of hyaluronic acidbacked by evidence
3 soothing ingredientsbacked by evidence
*Limited to raw material propertiesbacked by evidence
It can be used on all skin types, but since PHA aids in exfoliation, if you have sensitive skin or are using an exfoliating product for the first time, we recommend starting with use once every two days. After your skin adapts, you can increase the frequency for more comfortable use. If you experience any trouble or irritation during use, stop use immediately and feel free to contact us.backed by evidence
Not applicable (not a functional cosmetic)backed by evidence
With PHA, a lower-irritation ingredient than AHA·BHA, gently refines only surface dead skin cellsplausible, not tested
After refining surface dead skin cells with a makeup-eating finish, fills moisture into the stratum corneumplausible, not tested
Dense micro bubbles for makeup-eatingplausible, not tested
PHA 3%partly backed
Provides dense skin barrier care with a blend of NP·NS·AS·AP·EOPpartly backed
To ensure no burden even with daily use, we've included only the necessary ingredientspartly backed
Domestic production with no worry about leakagepartly backed
Soft and dense foam turns into refreshing water droplets the moment it touches the skin and absorbs without stickiness, providing gentle exfoliation and deep inner moisture for makeup-eating.partly backed
After cleansing, apply the foam to hands or face and gently massage to absorb, or wet a cotton pad and sweep without irritation, or use as a mask.partly backed
10 layers of inner moisture that fill layer by layer from the inside, not the surfaceoverstated
PHA gently smooths the dead skin cells that make skin rough, transforming it into a 'makeup-eating' peeled-egg skin texture where any makeup adheres snugly without lifting. In addition, powerful moisturizing ingredients such as various sizes of multi-hyaluronic acid and beta-glucan provide 'moisture filling' that leaves no room for dryness from the surface to deep within.overstated
Allantoin·panthenol·beta-glucan synergy and high content soothe tired, irritated skinno supporting source found
Firm pumping that doesn't leak until the very endno supporting source found
40 people, 150-day journeyno supporting source found
From blind tests to quantitative evaluation, meticulouslyno supporting source found
Created with Pobak and 399 testers* - Soft PHA Bubble Tonernothing specific to check
Soft Bubbles, Skincare Made with Us.nothing specific to check
Pobak, Bubble Toner, Toner, Makeup-eating, Pobak Bubble Toner, Makeup-eating Tonernothing specific to check
GYEOL HAUS
Hydration JOJOBA Essence Mist
It's made for better hydration and a smoother skin texture.
Key: Gluconolactone (#8 on the ingredient list · 1.5%), Jojoba Seed Oil 11.2%, Squalane
Official (Korean)
24 claims, summarized
Only partly backed:
better hydration (amount unknown) · a smoother skin texture
See each claim
claims, checked
Contains 112,000ppm of premium golden jojoba oilbacked by evidence
Oil 2 : Moisture 8 Two-Layer Designplausible, not tested
First essence mist that first captures moisture escaping right after cleansingplausible, not tested
Moisture barrier resembling skin, jojoba oil & squalaneplausible, not tested
A plant oil with components similar to squalene in skin lipids, offering high skin affinity and prevention of moisture loss.plausible, not tested
Glacier glycoprotein that lives in extreme cold has the ability to embrace moisture in dry environments, aiding in moisture retention.plausible, not tested
Oil & moisture two-layer mist, helps with these skin concerns.plausible, not tested
Oil & moisture particles that settle evenly over the entire faceplausible, not tested
PHA, a low-irritation exfoliating ingredient that even sensitive skin can use, removes old dead skin cells and helps improve skin texture.plausible, not tested
Moisture quickly fills in with no room for dryness.plausible, not tested
Thinly layers moisturizing ingredients to intensively care for inner dryness.plausible, not tested
Hydration Jojoba Essence Mist sprays moisture and oil in fine particles to slow moisture evaporation and reduce dryness right after cleansing.partly backed
Skin moisture 45.36% increasepartly backed
Transepidermal water loss 6.48% decreasepartly backed
8 types of hyaluronic acid of different sizes supply moisture layer by layer from the skin's surface to its inner layers.partly backed
Fills moisture and prevents evaporation to prevent dryness.partly backed
Part 4. Contains PHA 1.5%partly backed
It has a structure most similar to human skin lipids and forms a lipid membrane on the skin to prevent moisture evaporation.overstated
0.00% skin irritation indexno supporting source found
Suitability for use on sensitive skin Yes / Nono supporting source found
COSMOS certified organic jojoba seed oilno supporting source found
Uses an extraction technique that preserves jojoba's nutrients to the maximum.no supporting source found
0-step hydration completed by sprayingnothing specific to check
Moisturizing quality that changes from the start with 0-step care.nothing specific to check
Mamonde
Rose PHA Vol Mask
Key: Gluconolactone (#2 on the ingredient list), Panthenol, Niacinamide
EIOM
Trouble Red Shot 20 Cleaner
Key: Gluconolactone (#2 on the ingredient list), Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid
Official (Korean)
8 claims, summarized
Only partly backed:
less visible pores
Don't count on:
clearer-looking skin
Tests passed:
hypoallergenic · skin irritation
See each claim
claims, checked
High-content acid ingredients may cause a temporary tingling sensation while acting on the skin.plausible, not tested
Good to use on areas where hardened sebum, sebum inside pores, and rough skin texture are a concernplausible, not tested
Completed low-irritation test for sensitive skinpartly backed
Human skin low-irritation test completedpartly backed
From sebum deeply embedded in pores to skin texture, just! 30-second tingling peeling completes makeup-ready glowing skinoverstated
Low-irritation testing on sensitive skin has been completed for worry-free use.overstated
After use, it helps reduce the visible area of blackheads and pores.no supporting source found
A functional product to alleviate acne skin types that has been reported to the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.no supporting source found
CAREZONE
CAREZONE Homestatic Peeling Swap
Key: Gluconolactone (#3 on the ingredient list), Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid
Mamonde
Flora Glow Rose Liquid Mask
It's made for better hydration.
Key: Gluconolactone (#3 on the ingredient list), Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Brand store Olive Young US Official (Korean)
12 claims, summarized
Only partly backed:
better hydration · a smoother skin texture
Tests passed:
dermatologist check · skin irritation
See each claim
claims, checked
For this product, no significant skin irritation response was observed in the dermatological test (primary skin irritation test). (score 0.00)backed by evidence
Vegan certified, 0% animal-derived ingredients (officially certified by Korean Vegan Certification Institute)backed by evidence
10% PHAplausible, not tested
First 10% PHA content in our skincareplausible, not tested
Solution moisture glow, low-irritation dead skin careplausible, not tested
Rose peptideoverstated
100 % of subjects in the human application test experienced improvement in glowoverstated
Compared to before use, [dead skin cells (absorbed)] decreased by -99.3% immediately after use / [dead skin cells (wiped)] decreased by -99.0% immediately after useoverstated
Makeup evenness increased by +64%, and brightness after makeup increased by +35%overstated
8 types of hyaluronic acidcontradicted by sources
Comparison after no application on layers 1 to 10 of the stratum corneumnothing specific to check
A liquid mask that shines moist and smooth with moisture glownothing specific to check
Laneige
Water Bank Aqua Facial Serum
It's made for better hydration.
Key: Gluconolactone (#3 on the ingredient list), Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid
6 claims, summarized
Only partly backed:
better hydration
Don't count on:
better barrier support · less visible pores
See each claim
claims, checked
7.7% Acid Complex (PHA·AHA·BHA) and Hydro Infusion Shot™ evenly refine skin texture and provide deep hydration and healthy radiance.partly backed
In the human application test (test institution: Global Medical Research Center Co., Ltd., 32 adult women aged 20~55, 2025-05-07~2025-06-05), moisture level improved by +113.3% immediately after use, and skin barrier improved by +14.6% after 4 weeks.overstated
After 4 weeks, radiance indicators improved by +34.94% on the forehead, +9.75% on the nose bridge, and +38.81% on the cheeks.overstated
In the 4-week usage survey, 100% felt skin texture became soft and smooth, 90% felt pores were refined, 100% felt moisture filled deep into the skin, 93% felt skin barrier improvement, 96% felt healthy radiance, and 96% felt radiance was sustained (same test institution).no supporting source found
Compared to one skin boosting treatment at a professional skin care institution, after 4 weeks of product use, an equivalent or superior water-glow effect was confirmed.no supporting source found
Dermatological test, hypoallergenic test, and sensitive panel test completed, and it is a 13-FREE formula.no supporting source found
Torriden
BALANCEFUL Toner Pad
It's made for a smoother skin texture and calmer skin.
Key: Gluconolactone (#4 on the ingredient list), Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract
Brand store Official (Korean)
17 claims, summarized
Only partly backed:
calmer skin · a smoother skin texture · better hydration
See each claim
claims, checked
Gentle Daily Exfoliation for Smooth, Balanced Skinplausible, not tested
Embossed Pad: Textured pad with a 3D embossed surface that thoroughly and gently cleanses problem areas for smoother skin with daily useplausible, not tested
Delivers moisture, helps retain hydration, and soothes the skinplausible, not tested
it provides calming care without stickiness or heaviness.plausible, not tested
Daily toner pad formulated with 5 types of centella asiatica extract ingredients and LHA & PHA calms and provides smoothness for sensitive skin.partly backed
Daily Exfoliation: Gently melts away excess sebum and dead skin cells to refine rough texturepartly backed
Gentle Formula: Mild and non-irritating, even for sensitive skinpartly backed
The human repeat insult patch test(Non-irritant)(1)partly backed
11.2% improved skin texture(roughness)(2)partly backed
100% gave positive answers on feeling like my rough skin texture has become smooth and soft(5)partly backed
Soothes and comforts sensitive, stressed skin with five types of Cica ingredientspartly backed
Gently exfoliates dead skin and excess sebum with a mild, low-pH formulapartly backed
Gently exfoliates to remove old dead skin cells and refine texturepartly backed
84.3% improved skin exfoliation(3)overstated
50.8% improved in skin sebum(4)overstated
A gentle yet effective blend of five types of Cica ingredients helps soothe visible redness and support sensitive skin.overstated
Designed to keep skin balanced, smooth, and comfortablenothing specific to check
Torriden
Balanceful Cica Exfoliating Toner
Key: Gluconolactone (#4 on the ingredient list), Centella Asiatica Extract, Betaine Salicylate
Official (Korean)
2 claims, summarized
Don't count on:
less visible dark spots
See each claim
claims, checked
Balanceful Cica Exfoliationbacked by evidence
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety notified functional ingredient: helps with whitening (Danawa listing)overstated
Abib
Jericho rose PHA toner Skin booster
It's made for better hydration and firmer skin.
Key: Gluconolactone (#4 on the ingredient list), Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Bifida Ferment Filtrate
Official (Korean)
25 claims, summarized
Only partly backed:
firmer skin (brand's own survey of 21) · a smoother skin texture (brand's own survey of 21) · better hydration (brand's own survey of 21) · better barrier support (brand's own survey of 21)
Tests passed:
skin irritation
See each claim
claims, checked
Contains PHA* 5%backed by evidence
Dead skin cell care and moisturizing at the same time!plausible, not tested
Skin texture care you can feel with just 1 use*! Experience the elasticity of skin texture becoming smooth.partly backed
Dead skin cells & skin texture improvement test completed. After 1 use, dead skin cells 189.15% improvement, skin texture 117.86% improvement *Dead skin cells & skin texture improvement test completed / Skinmed Clinical Trial Center Period: 2023.11.15-11.16 / Participants: 21 people (individual differences may occur)partly backed
Immediately after use, skin moisture 127.48% improvement, skin elasticity 122.31% improvement, skin barrier 113.94% improvement *Skin moisture & elasticity & barrier (transepidermal water loss) improvement test completed / Skinmed Clinical Trial Center Period: 2023.11.15-11.16 / Participants: 21 people (individual differences may occur)partly backed
With a formula full of low-irritation peeling ingredients, it helps with dead skin cell improvement and makes the skin moist and smooth.partly backed
The trehalose ingredient in Resurrection Plant increases moisture retention and delivers moist hydration to the skin.partly backed
Contains Bifida Ferment Filtrate fermented from Resurrection Plant, which makes the skin healthy and firm.partly backed
Bakuchiol, Ecoseramide, and Peptide meet to help care for firm skin.partly backed
Resurrection Plant Toner containing 3 types of elasticity boosterspartly backed
Contains 7 kinds of Cica Complex* with Ectoine, Panthenol, and Centella Asiatica-derived ingredients, caring for not only skin soothing but also the barrier.partly backed
Sensitive skin irritation test completedpartly backed
*Human skin primary irritation test for sensitive skin completed / Skinmed Clinical Trial Center Period: 2023.11.07-11.09 / Participants: 32 people (individual differences may occur)partly backed
Wrinkle improvement, whitening dual functional cosmeticspartly backed
Experience not only the moisture that fills from deep inside the skin* but also the skin barrier that becomes stronger and the firm elasticity that fills up.overstated
Through the synergy of Hyaluronic Acid and Resurrection Plant's trehalose, it delivers powerful hydration from deep inside the skin*. *Skin moisture improvement test completed / Skinmed Clinical Trial Center Period: 2023.11.15-11.16 / Participants: 21 people (individual differences may occur)overstated
The Resurrection Plant grown in barren desert maintains its vitality in the form of hay and blooms again when it takes in moisture.no supporting source found
Abib's special proprietary ingredientno supporting source found
The water-essence texture that sinks in bouncily as if applying an essence is absorbed into the skin without stickiness, delivering a filling moisturizing sensation.no supporting source found
Even sensitive skin can experience firm skin texture care without burden.no supporting source found
Smoothly filling firm moisturizing skin texture care, Resurrection Plant Tonernothing specific to check
Slow aging that starts nownothing specific to check
My first anti-aging Abib Resurrection Plant elasticity carenothing specific to check
Feel the firm moisturizing feeling of Resurrection Plant with strong vitality.nothing specific to check
Experience more effective Resurrection Plant elasticity care.nothing specific to check
FATION
NOSCA9 TROUBLE CLEAR TONER
Key: Gluconolactone (#4 on the ingredient list), Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Terpinen-4-ol
Official (Korean)
3 claims, summarized
Don't count on:
clearer-looking skin
See each claim
claims, checked
Smoothly clear bumpy skin!plausible, not tested
Bumpy Trouble Cleaning Toneroverstated
All skin types including sensitive and acne-prone skinoverstated

Often featured alongside it

Are the claims about it backed up?

We checked each claim that features this ingredient. Open the list below to see the result for each one.

See the results by claim

Result	Claims
backed by evidence	1 of 8
plausible, not tested	2 of 8
partly backed	4 of 8
overstated	1 of 8

These are counts of claims, not products. One product can name the same ingredient in several claims, and we checked each one on its own.

Which articles cover it?

Posts on this site that take this ingredient as their subject.

What is PHA, and is it really the gentle acid?

Sources

We summarized the published studies and public records listed below, each with its DOI or PubMed number. Findings about treating medical conditions are outside what a cosmetics page covers, so we left them out.

What can you expect from it?

Anti-aging on par with glycolic acid, with less stinging.
Over 12 weeks a gluconolactone routine matched a glycolic acid routine on the visible antiaging measures, with glycolic acid slightly ahead on two of them. The clear difference was comfort: stinging and burning were worse on the glycolic acid side at both 6 and 12 weeks.
A 12 week comparison of two skincare routines, one built on gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid (PHA), the other on glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA).
In a 12 week clinical study comparing gluconolactone containing products against glycolic acid containing products, both regimens showed significant antiaging benefits by silicone replica, clinical grading and pinch recoil.
Harsh cleansers dry it out and redden it less.
After 4 weeks of use, skin that then met a harsh cleansing agent lost less water and went less red than skin given the plain base, nothing at all, or glycolic acid. The gain showed up under that challenge, not in the resting readings.
A 4 week within person comparison in 11 healthy volunteers, each acid at 8%, with a strong detergent held under a patch at the end.
Gluconolactone at 8% for 4 weeks left skin with significantly lower TEWL and less erythema after an SLS challenge than vehicle, untreated skin, and glycolic acid.
Sources: 2

What won't it do?

It isn't just a gentler glycolic acid.
Half of that does not hold. In the one head to head, glycolic acid came out ahead on two measures at 12 weeks and gluconolactone came out ahead on none, so the fair line is comparable overall with better comfort.
The same 12 week comparison of the two routines; no study here measures how fast the outermost layer of skin sheds.
Partly contradicted on the efficacy half.
In the only head to head found, the AHA regimen beat the PHA regimen on two of the measured antiaging endpoints at week 12 and the PHA beat the AHA on none.
Sources: 3
PHA blend results don't count for gluconolactone alone.
A mixture's result belongs to the mixture. The studies behind the wider polyhydroxy acid (PHA) literature tested several actives together, and the sensitive skin trial that reported smoother, firmer skin used a blend of acids with no gluconolactone arm at all.
Not a gluconolactone study: a review whose underlying trials combined actives, plus a 2 month half face trial of an acid blend.
Attribution failure, and it recurs across the PHA corpus.
A sensitive skin half face trial that reported significant decreases in skin roughness and wrinkle breadth and improvements in firmness and elasticity after 2 months tested a serum formulated with a patent pending pool of acids, against a mandelic acid serum and a placebo, with no gluconolactone arm.
Sources: 5
It won't strengthen your everyday barrier.
Too strong for the data. At 4 weeks with nothing provoking the skin, gluconolactone read no different from the three other acids, and what was actually measured is that the barrier held up better when it was attacked.
The same 4 week comparison in 11 people, read once at rest and once after the detergent challenge.
Over-stated by the data's own shape.
At week 4 with no challenge, gluconolactone showed no significant TEWL or erythema difference from the other three acids, and the study reports no baseline improvement over untreated skin as an endpoint.
Sources: 2
Don't count on it for sun protection.
Not at this level of evidence. The 50% figure comes from a laboratory model outside skin and the same authors wrote that more work is needed; on human skin the study measured only that the UV damaged cell count did not rise.
A laboratory model rather than human skin for the 50% figure, with a human part that only counted those cells.
Out of reach at this evidence level.
The 50% protection figure is elastin promoter activation in an in vitro transgenic model, and the same authors conclude that further investigation of this and other PHAs is necessary to identify their potential role in preventing and repairing cutaneous photodamage.
Sources: 4

Citations

1
Ferguson P, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD, Liebler DC, Peterson LA, Rettie AE, Ross D, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, Tilton SC, Fiume MM, Heldreth B. Safety Assessment of Glycolactones as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol. 2026;45(2 Suppl):124S-134S.DOI 10.1177/10915818261455261 PMID 42249663
2
Berardesca E, Distante F, Vignoli GP, Oresajo C, Green B. Alpha hydroxyacids modulate stratum corneum barrier function. Br J Dermatol. 1997;137(6):934-938.PMID 9470910
3
Edison BL, Green BA, Wildnauer RH, Sigler ML. A polyhydroxy acid skin care regimen provides antiaging effects comparable to an alpha-hydroxyacid regimen. Cutis. 2004;73(2 Suppl):14-17.PMID 15002657
4
Bernstein EF, Brown DB, Schwartz MD, Kaidbey K, Ksenzenko SM. The polyhydroxy acid gluconolactone protects against ultraviolet radiation in an in vitro model of cutaneous photoaging. Dermatol Surg. 2004;30(2 Pt 1):189-195.DOI 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2004.30060.x PMID 14756648
5
Gentili G, Perugini P, Bugliaro S, D'Antonio C. Efficacy and safety of a new peeling formulated with a pool of PHAs for the treatment of all skin types, even sensitive. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2023;22(2):517-528.DOI 10.1111/jocd.15215 PMID 35796684

What each point on this page rests on, with full citations.