CeraVe Hydrating Toner Versus Neutrogena Fine Fairness Toner

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of CeraVe Hydrating Toner versus Neutrogena Fine Fairness Toner .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on July 21, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe toners. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain niacinamide

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any 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.

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CeraVe Hydrating Toner

Neutrogena Fine Fairness Toner

Toner Canadian Brand Canada

Toner American Brand United States

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

Price

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Buy Hydrating Toner

Starts at $9.86

Shop

Buy Fine Fairness Toner

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

CeraVe Hydrating Toner 25 ingredients

Neutrogena Fine Fairness Toner 17 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

CeraVe Hydrating Toner 25 ingredients

Neutrogena Fine Fairness Toner 17 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Niacinamide

Ceramides (3)

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (6)

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing (5)

Reduces Irritation (3)

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging (4)

Dark Spots

Scar Healing

Acne Fighting

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Irritating

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C

Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing (2)

Skin Texture

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing

Acne Fighting

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin

Irritating

Rosacea (2)

Eczema (2)

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

CeraVe Hydrating Toner 25 ingredients

Neutrogena Fine Fairness Toner 17 ingredients

Water • Propanediol • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30 • Peg-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether • Peg/Ppg/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Potassium Laurate • Ceramide EOP • Carbomer • Niacinamide • Sodium Hydroxide • Sodium Citrate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Cholesterol • Phenoxyethanol • Chlorphenesin • Tocopherol • Citric Acid • Phytosphingosine • Xanthan Gum • Ethylhexylglycerin

Water • Butylene Glycol • Glycerin • Pentylene Glycol • Glycol • Portulaca Oleracea Extract • Polysorbate 20 • Sodium PCA • Sodium Benzoate • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Benzyl Alcohol • Parfum • Disodium EDTA • Sodium Hydroxide • Niacinamide • Citric Acid • Lilium Candidum Flower Extract

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

CeraVe Hydrating Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.

Neutrogena Fine Fairness Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.

Glycerin

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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

CeraVe Hydrating Toner contains this as ingredient number 3.

Neutrogena Fine Fairness Toner contains this as ingredient number 3.

Butylene Glycol

What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

CeraVe Hydrating Toner contains this as ingredient number 4.

Neutrogena Fine Fairness Toner contains this as ingredient number 2.

Niacinamide

What it does: Smoothing

Community Rating: Loved

Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.

It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.

Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.

The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.

Learn more about Niacinamide

CeraVe Hydrating Toner contains this as ingredient number 13.

Neutrogena Fine Fairness Toner contains this as ingredient number 15.

Sodium Hydroxide

What it does: Buffering

Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

CeraVe Hydrating Toner contains this as ingredient number 14.

Neutrogena Fine Fairness Toner contains this as ingredient number 14.

Citric Acid

What it does: Buffering, Masking

Community Rating: Disliked

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 Acid

CeraVe Hydrating Toner contains this as ingredient number 22.

Neutrogena Fine Fairness Toner contains this as ingredient number 16.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.