Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3 Versus Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner
Updated on July 28, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe toners. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols
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
Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3 17 ingredients
Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner 29 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3 17 ingredients
Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner 29 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
CI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
PEG-8
HumectantPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Methyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingIsobutyl Methyl Tetrahydropyranol
MaskingTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethyl Linalool
Masking
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingCitronellyl Acetate
MaskingCyclamen Aldehyde
MaskingGamma-Undecalactone
Perfuming
Methyl Dimethylmethylenecyclohexane Carboxylate
MaskingMethylenedioxyphenyl Methylpropanal
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Simethicone
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol Denat., PEG-8, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Isobutyl Methyl Tetrahydropyranol, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Ethyl Linalool, Ethylene Brassylate, Citronellyl Acetate, Cyclamen Aldehyde, Gamma-Undecalactone, Methyl Dimethylmethylenecyclohexane Carboxylate, Methylenedioxyphenyl Methylpropanal, Phenoxyethanol, Simethicone, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Benzophenone-4, CI 14700
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Benzophenone-4 is a water-soluble chemical sunscreen.
It protects in the UV-B range, but is considered a secondary UV absorber. This means that it needs to be paired with other sunscreen ingredients to provide effective protection.
Typically, it's used in cosmetic products to protect them from deterioration caused by UV rays. This is why you'll find it in a lot of products that aren't sunscreens.
Learn more about Benzophenone-4Butylene 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
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 even out skin tone.
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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
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 WaterIngredient Ratings
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When to use
Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3 17 ingredients
Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner 29 ingredients
Reviews
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