Andalou Naturals Clear Skin Willow Bark Pure Pore Toner Versus Thayers Blemish Clearing 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Toner
This pore-care toner is formulated around Salicylic Acid to refine the look of pores and clear breakouts.
This acne toner is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil to clear breakouts and refine the look of pores.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningEpilobium Angustifolium Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Salix Alba Extract
Skin ConditioningSpiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Thymus Vulgaris Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycerin, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Oleate, Decyl Glucoside, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Salix Alba Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract, Salicylic Acid, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Thymus Vulgaris Oil
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Borate
BufferingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Geraniol
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Sodium Borate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Geraniol, Farnesol, Limonene, Citral
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is the filtered, stabilized liquid pressed from the inner gel of the aloe vera leaf.
In cosmetics, it shows up as either soothing active or a water-replacement base. It is roughly 98-99% water and the last 1-2% is an interesting mix of polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
The polysaccharides do most of the work: they bind water at the skin surface for a light, non-greasy hydration boost. And one of the polysaccharides, glycomannan, is linked to fibroblast stimulation + collagen synthesis. This is also why aloe has such a long track record in wound and burn healing.
This ingredient is also calming with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity, making it a great pick for sensitive, irritated, or post-sun skin.
Realistic expectations matter though; the solid evidence is mostly limited to hydration, soothing, and wound support. Deeper claims about anti-aging or sun protection are not well backed, and science reviews note it does not prevent radiation-induced skin injury.
Because it plays well with almost everything, it's commonly used as a base alongside other actives like niacinamide or vitamin C.
Typical usage concentrations range from 0.5% (where hydration benefits already show up) all the way to 90%+ (where it replaces water as the main base).
The safety for this ingredient is well-establish as well. Overall, this is a great supporting ingredient for those who want a boost in hydration.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
