Anua Azelaic Acid 3 Cica Skin Clarifying Toner Versus Freck Cactus Water Cleansing Lactic Acid Toner
This acne toner is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and calm redness.
This smoothing toner is formulated around Lactic Acid and Panax Ginseng Root Extract to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDocosahexaenoic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhizic Acid
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSuccinic Acid
BufferingZinc PCA
Humectant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Xylose
HumectantAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Totarol
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Azelaic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Propanediol, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Madecassoside, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Glycine Soja Protein, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Asiaticoside, Allantoin, Ectoin, Glycyrrhizic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Succinic Acid, Zinc PCA, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolic Acid, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglutamic Acid, Xylose, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Totarol, Squalane, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Ceramide NP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Menthol
Masking
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Menthol, Potassium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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
