Black Sugar Perfect PHA Ampoule

SKINFOOD

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The SKINFOOD Black Sugar Perfect PHA Ampoule is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 44 ingredients (26 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Serums, Essence, Ampoules
Ingredients
44
Low-risk
26
Fragrance
Contains fragrance
Origin
South Korea

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 7/6
Good for dry skin
Gluconolactone Sucrose Panax Ginseng Root Extract Butylene Glycol Lactic Acid Lecithin Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Caution for dry skin
Xanthan Gum Salicylic Acid Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate Alcohol Silica Lecithin
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 2/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid Alcohol
Sensitive Skin 4/8
Good for sensitive skin
Sucrose Panax Ginseng Root Extract Hydroxyacetophenone Allantoin
Caution for sensitive skin
Gluconolactone Succinic Acid Butylene Glycol Salicylic Acid Alcohol Lactic Acid Linalool Limonene

Ingredients list

44 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (6)
All44 Skin Conditioning38 Fragrance9 Solvent8 Viscosity Controlling8 Hair Conditioning7 Humectant5 Masking5 Skin Protecting4
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
Gluconolactone
(Fragrance, Humectant, Solvent)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing)
2
Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling)
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
3
B
Potassium Hydroxide
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
1
A
Sucrose
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
1
2
A
Silica
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
1,2-Hexanediol
(Solvent)
4
B
Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
(Viscosity Controlling)
1
Hydroxyacetophenone
(Antioxidant)
1
A
Succinic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
1
B
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
3
B
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling)
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
(Humectant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Bifida Ferment Lysate
(Skin Conditioning)
1
B
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
(Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Panthenol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
A
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
4
B
Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
(Skin Conditioning)
2
3
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient)
1
A
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic)
1
A
Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
Rice Ferment Filtrate
(Skin Conditioning)
CARICA PAPAYA FRUIT EXTRACT
(Skin Conditioning)
Vigna Radiata Seed Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
CITRUS AURANTIFOLIA FRUIT EXTRACT
(Skin Conditioning)
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing, Soothing)
Glycine Max Seed Extract
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting)
1
A
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning)
Oryza sativa extract
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Bulking, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
Avena sativa Kernel Extract
(Abrasive, Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient)
PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming)
6
Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent)
Allergens
Allergens
5
Linalool
(Fragrance, Deodorant, Masking)
Allergens
Allergens

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

Gluconolactone
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning, Humectant
Niacinamide
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Astringent
Sucrose
Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Exfoliant, Humectant

Benefits

Good for dry skin
Good for oily/acne-prone skin

Concerns

Contains eu allergen
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
May not suit sensitive skin

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Gluconolactone
Fragrance, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 FragranceHumectantSolvent
Propanediol
Solvent, Viscosity decreasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 SolventViscosity decreasing agentViscosity controlling
Niacinamide
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningSmoothing
Potassium Hydroxide
Ph adjuster, Buffering agent
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B Ph adjusterBuffering agent
Sucrose
Flavoring agent, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Flavoring agentHumectantSkin conditioningSoothing
Silica
Abrasive, Absorbent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1–2 CIR A AbrasiveAbsorbentAnticaking agentBulking agentOpacifyingViscosity controlling
1,2-Hexanediol
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Solvent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
Viscosity controlling
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Viscosity controlling
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antioxidant
Succinic Acid
Fragrance, Ph adjuster
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin conditioning, Emulsifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Skin conditioningEmulsifyingSurfactant
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Binding agent, Film forming
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B Binding agentFilm formingViscosity increasing agentBindingOpacifyingViscosity controlling
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Skin conditioning
+ 20 more — see the full ingredients list above
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Alcohol
Antifoaming agent, Antimicrobial
Causes moisture evaporation - prone to dry out skinRead moreShow less
EWG 2 Antifoaming agentAntimicrobialAstringentMaskingSolventViscosity controlling Bad for Dry SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Lactic Acid
Exfoliant, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B ExfoliantFragranceHumectantPh adjusterSkin-conditioning agent -humectantSkin conditioningBuffering agent Bad for Sensitive Skin
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Humectant Fungal-acne trigger
Panthenol
Antistatic agent, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Antistatic agentHair conditioningSkin conditioning Good for Dry Skin
Salicylic Acid
Antiacne agent, Antidandruff agent
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B Antiacne agentAntidandruff agentCorn/callus/wart removerDenaturantExfoliantFragranceHair conditioningSkin conditioningKeratolyticMaskingPreservative Good for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Allantoin
Skin conditioning, Skin protecting
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningSkin protectingSoothing Good for Oily SkinGood for Sensitive Skin
Limonene
Deodorant, Perfuming
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 6 DeodorantPerfumingSolvent Allergens
Linalool
Fragrance, Deodorant
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 5 FragranceDeodorantMasking Allergens

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Apply after toner and before moisturiser — thinnest to thickest.
  • 2 Evening, start slow: Best in the PM a few times a week to begin with; avoid layering with other strong actives the same night.
  • 3 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Use with caution
BHA (salicylic) (Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Salicylic Acid)

Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.

This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

Niacinamide 2–5% (up to 10%)

Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.

Niacinamide

BHA (salicylic) 0.5–2%

Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.

Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Salicylic Acid

AHA (acid exfoliant) 5–10% (OTC)

OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.

Lactic Acid

INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.

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