Isntree

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence.

Masks & Peels

About this product

An exfoliating essence with alpha hydroxy acids designed to gently exfoliate dry, rough skin and lighten dark spots.

Full ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Panthenol, Madecassoside, Allantoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Glycolic Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Dextrin, Lactic Acid (4.023%), Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Sucrose Stearate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycolic Acid (4.004%), Asiaticoside, Glycereth-25 Pca Isostearate, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Madecassic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Castanea Crenata (Chestnut) Shell Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Asiatic Acid, Lactic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Guru Score

78%

Yay

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

What the gurus are saying

This dual-AHA formula (4% glycolic and 4% lactic acid) delivers visible lightening on dark spots while remaining hydrating, a combination gurus praise for dry sensitive skin. The liquid texture requires careful application, typically painted on with a finger. Though higher AHA percentages are unusual in skincare, those with dryness appreciate that this formula hydrates while it exfoliates, and it pairs safely with tretinoin.

Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take December 2024

What they liked

Dual AHA blend targets multiple skin depths
Lightweight hydrating texture
Fragrance-free

What they flagged

Tacky sensation on application

Best for

Dry skin

Type

Masks & PeelsLiquid

Key actives

Hyaluronic acidAHA

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

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AliceintheRabbitHole

59k subs

✓Yay

"I don't use AHA ingredients too often, I have to be really cautious spacing them out in my routine, but I have to admit this is an excellent option for AHA ingredients. We don't see these higher percentages too often, this product uses 4% glycolic acid and 4% lactic acid to target different levels of your skin for exfoliating. [...] For me personally this one does have a little bit of a tacky sensation, but it's such a rare category, especially in K-beauty, and I do appreciate it."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

✓Yay

"This clear Essence I think is a great option for people who have dry sensitive skin. Alpha hydroxy acids can be particularly beneficial for dry skin but it's easy to overdo them and further worsen dryness and cause a lot of irritation. It all is contingent on kind of the overall formulation of the product as well as what else you're using with it and how frequently you're using it but this particular Essence is great for dry rough and bumpy skin."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Alpha hydroxy acids

Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence?

An exfoliating essence with alpha hydroxy acids designed to gently exfoliate dry, rough skin and lighten dark spots.

Is Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence worth it?

Yes. All 2 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 78%.

What is Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence's Guru Score?

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence holds a Guru Score of 78%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 expert reviewers we have collected.