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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir versus [Coat]s Gentle Hydrating Toning Milk .

Last updated on January 12, 2024. Published on February 19, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe . They have a total of 12 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens and fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum British Brand United Kingdom
Toner British Brand United Kingdom

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

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.

Price

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant 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

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Exfoliators (4)
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
Peptides (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (5)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (4)
Eczema (4)

Notable Ingredients

AHA (2)
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Niacinamide
Ceramides
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (2)
Skin Texture (2)
Reduces Large Pores (3)
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (4)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema
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Ingredients Compared

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

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.

1
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

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir contains this as ingredient number 1.

[Coat]s Gentle Hydrating Toning Milk contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
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

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir contains this as ingredient number 2.

[Coat]s Gentle Hydrating Toning Milk contains this as ingredient number 7.

3
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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.

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir contains this as ingredient number 14.

[Coat]s Gentle Hydrating Toning Milk contains this as ingredient number 10.

4
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying
Community Rating: Disliked

Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.

Glyceryl Stearate is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.

As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.

In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced. The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.

Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir contains this as ingredient number 17.

[Coat]s Gentle Hydrating Toning Milk contains this as ingredient number 4.

5
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.

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir contains this as ingredient number 18.

[Coat]s Gentle Hydrating Toning Milk contains this as ingredient number 2.

6
What it does: Perfuming, Preservative, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.

Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.

Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.

Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.

Other types of astringent alcohols include:

According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.

Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.

Learn more about Benzyl Alcohol

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir contains this as ingredient number 20.

[Coat]s Gentle Hydrating Toning Milk contains this as ingredient number 11.

7
What it does:
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Peg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.

Peg-100 Stearate helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. It helps prevent oil and water from separating in a product. By binding oil and water, it helps remove dirt and oil to be rinsed away.

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir contains this as ingredient number 22.

[Coat]s Gentle Hydrating Toning Milk contains this as ingredient number 8.

8
What it does: Skin Conditioning

This is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.

It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.

Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.

Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.

Learn more about Sodium Gluconate

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir contains this as ingredient number 26.

[Coat]s Gentle Hydrating Toning Milk contains this as ingredient number 17.

9
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

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 Hyaluronate

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir contains this as ingredient number 27.

[Coat]s Gentle Hydrating Toning Milk contains this as ingredient number 19.

10
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

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir contains this as ingredient number 29.

[Coat]s Gentle Hydrating Toning Milk contains this as ingredient number 14.

11
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir contains this as ingredient number 31.

[Coat]s Gentle Hydrating Toning Milk contains this as ingredient number 18.

12
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

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir contains this as ingredient number 55.

[Coat]s Gentle Hydrating Toning Milk contains this as ingredient number 5.

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

35% are loved or liked
11% have mixed ratings
32% are disliked or very disliked
23% have no rating yet
32% are loved or liked
14% have mixed ratings
41% are disliked or very disliked
14% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

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Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 17 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 3 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to [Coat]s Gentle Hydrating Toning Milk.

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