Versus

Catrice Glow Skin Renewal Toner Versus Farmacy Brighten Up 3% TXA Dark Spot Toner with Azelaic Acid + PHA

Toner
Toner
German Brand Germany
American Brand United States

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free, fungal acne (malassezia) safe, and reef safe toners. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA and PHA

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

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 needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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 Water
Skin Conditioning

Gluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.

When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.

PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.

Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:

In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.

This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.

Learn more about Gluconolactone
Solvent

Propanediol 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 Propanediol
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

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 Glycerin
Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

When to use

6 Routines
17% use in am
83% use in pm
67% use every day
260 Routines
49% use in am
51% use in pm
89% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Catrice Glow Skin Renewal Toner 10 ingredients

Glow Skin Renewal Toner hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Farmacy Brighten Up 3% TXA Dark Spot Toner with Azelaic Acid + PHA 24 ingredients

4.5 /5
from 8 ratings
Works Well (3) Light (3) Absorbs Well (2)
Veema's avatar

Veema

4 months ago
Review

This might just be a holy grail item for me. I have moderate hyperpigmentation with a small patch of melasma, and this has been the best at treating it. I love that it's fungal acne safe and has Vitamin C, Tranexamic acid, and Azelaic acid. The PHA is a bonus, and it has been quite gentle on my sensitive skin. Definitely will be repurchasing.

#light
#absorbs well
#light scent
#works well
aw4's avatar

A W

2 months ago
Review

Holy grail. Enough said. This is worth the value. I know it's a toner, but it works like a serum, so it lasts forever making it the cheapest product I've ever bought. Not sure if it helps with dark spots, but it does make a massive difference in skin brightness and texture. It also makes my other products work way better (possibly because it hydrates my skin in a different way than other Show more

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well