Alpha-H Clear Skin Tonic Versus La Mer The Essential Tonic
Updated on August 28, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan and reef safe . They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances and oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Alpha-H Clear Skin Tonic 27 ingredients
La Mer The Essential Tonic 63 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Alpha-H Clear Skin Tonic 27 ingredients
La Mer The Essential Tonic 63 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
SolventBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium PCA
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingThymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cupressus Sempervirens Seed Extract
Perfuming
Hordeum Vulgare Root Extract
EmollientPolygonatum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Water, Alcohol Denat., Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Bioflavonoids, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Polysorbate 20, Salicylic Acid, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Sodium PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cupressus Sempervirens Seed Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Root Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Extract, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Algae Extract
Emollient
Methyl Gluceth-20
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Medicago Sativa Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
Abrasive
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Succinate
Antioxidant
Niacin
Smoothing
Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Cleansing
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningHomarine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Erythritol
HumectantSucrose
HumectantPEG-8
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDextrin
AbsorbentPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Laureth-3
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Triacetin
AntimicrobialParfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Polysorbate 20, Algae Extract, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycereth-26, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Aspergillus Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment, Yeast Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Caffeine, Sodium PCA, Trehalose, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Homarine Hcl, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Urea, Erythritol, Sucrose, PEG-8, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Dextrin, Polyquaternium-51, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Laureth-3, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat., Triacetin, Parfum, Linalool, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, CI 14700, CI 19140, CI 17200
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterAlcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolPolysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolThis oil is derived from the leaves of Eucalyptus Globulus, a type of Eucalyptus tree native to Australia.
Though this oil shows antibacterial and antioxidant activity, it is also a known skin-irritant due to its fragrance components.
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