Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Babor Refine Retinol Smoothing Toner versus Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner .
Last updated on December 22, 2023. Published on January 02, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free, fungal acne (malassezia) safe, and reef safe toners. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for sensitive skin
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Toner
Toners are used as a “last-step” cleanser, a pH balancer, add moisture to the skin, or may help in reducing impurities on the skin. They have a liquid consistency and are usually used after cleansers but before treatments.
Toner
Toners are used as a “last-step” cleanser, a pH balancer, add moisture to the skin, or may help in reducing impurities on the skin. They have a liquid consistency and are usually used after cleansers but before treatments.
Ingredient Info
Babor Refine Retinol Smoothing Toner 9 ingredients
Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner 14 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Babor Refine Retinol Smoothing Toner 9 ingredients
Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner 14 ingredients
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Babor Refine Retinol Smoothing Toner 9 ingredients
Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner 14 ingredients
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterBabor Refine Retinol Smoothing Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.
Panthenol (also referred to as pro-vitamin B5) is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin.
lt is a humectant, meaning that it helps the skin attract and retain moisture.
Another benefit is the anti-inflammatory abilities. This means that it's great for sensitive, irritation-prone skin.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
Learn more about PanthenolBabor Refine Retinol Smoothing Toner contains this as ingredient number 2.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner contains this as ingredient number 5.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.
Babor Refine Retinol Smoothing Toner contains this as ingredient number 3.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner contains this as ingredient number 10.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Babor Refine Retinol Smoothing Toner contains this as ingredient number 6.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner contains this as ingredient number 11.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidBabor Refine Retinol Smoothing Toner contains this as ingredient number 7.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner contains this as ingredient number 12.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateBabor Refine Retinol Smoothing Toner contains this as ingredient number 8.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner contains this as ingredient number 6.
Pantolactone is a synthetically created humectant.
As a humectant, Pantolactone helps draw moisture to the skin. It can help add hydration to your skin.
Babor Refine Retinol Smoothing Toner contains this as ingredient number 9.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner contains this as ingredient number 13.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Babor Refine Retinol Smoothing Toner 9 ingredients
Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner 14 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Babor Refine Retinol Smoothing Toner 9 ingredients
Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner 14 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Babor Refine Retinol Smoothing Toner.
See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 22 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner.
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