This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Panthenol and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTrilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantPotentilla Anserina Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCyperus Rotundus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Chloride
MaskingGlutathione
Sucrose Distearate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingWater, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Cellulose Gum, Parfum, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Potentilla Anserina Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Butylene Glycol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Fructooligosaccharides, Centella Asiatica Extract, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Chloride, Glutathione, Sucrose Distearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTrilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantPaullinia Cupana Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
AntioxidantMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantGlutathione
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingWater, Glycerin, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Dipropylene Glycol, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Glutathione, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-11, Hexapeptide-9, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, Centella Asiatica Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Butylene 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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is one of the most researched botanical extracts in skincare with decades of studies backing its effects on inflammation, collagen, and the skin barrier.
That research keeps pointing back to the same four triterpenoid saponins: Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid.
These compounds allow centella to dial back inflammation, encourage the skin to build and hold onto collagen, support the barrier and hydration, and bring solid antioxidant activity to protect against signs of aging.
Centella also carries a nice supporting cast of Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and amino acids. Put it all together and you get an ingredient that soothes, hydrates, and protects, all at once.
Most of centella's magic comes from the four big compounds (Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid). These are the actives doing the heavy lifting in almost every centella study.
Here is the short version of what they do in the skin:
So it is not just soothing for the sake of soothing. Centella calms the skin AND helps it rebuild.
Just FYI, not all centella on an ingredient list is the same. What you are getting actually depends on the extract:
Fun fact on the ratios: the leaves tend to be richest in Madecassoside and Asiaticoside, and lower in the two acids. The exact amounts shift with where the plant is grown and how it is processed. This means purity really does vary brand to brand.
Centella is one of the most easygoing actives out there.
It layers well with basically everything: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin C, and also pairs nicely with stronger actives like retinoids and exfoliating acids where it can help take the edge off irritation.
On the safety side, centella and its triterpenes are classified as weak sensitizers, meaning allergic reactions are possible but uncommon.
Patch tests at 1% and 5% came back negative in test panels, and creams at typical use levels did not cause allergic reactions across large groups of people.
But as with any new active, a patch test is still a smart move for very reactive skin.
Centella is widely used because it is effective at low percentages. For context, human safety testing found no meaningful irritation from creams containing centella extract at everyday use levels (the tested amounts were well under 1%).
The irritancy threshold in animal testing was also above 30% (so real-world formulas sit far below anything concerning).
In collagen lab studies, higher concentrations drove more collagen synthesis, so serums built around centella tend to feature it more prominently.
Bottom line: you will find centella working nicely anywhere from a fraction of a percent up to hero-ingredient levels depending on whether it is a supporting soother or the main event.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlutathione is a tiny protein-like molecule (a "tripeptide" build from 3 amino acids: glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid) that your body already makes on its own.
Inside your body, it acts as one of the skin's main antioxidants that help fight against free radicals.
In skincare, it's best known as a brightening ingredient that slows down tyrosinase, the key enzyme that makes skin pigment. It also nudges the skin toward making a lighter type of pigment instead of a darker one.
This is why you'll see it in products aimed at dark spots and uneven tone.
A small number of real human trials have found a topical glutathione lotion:
The honest caveat is that the current evidence is still thin (few studies, small groups, short timelines). Glutathione also doesn't absorb into skin very easily so results tend to be modest and fade if you stop using it.
One thing worth clearing up:
The scary side effects you may have heard about come from glutathione injected intravenously, which has real safety concerns. Applying it topically is a completely different thing and has a clean track record.
Most human studies used it around 2% (as Glutathione or Glutathione Disulfide) and a 2% oxidized glutathione lotion and a 2% S-acyl glutathione cream are the concentrations with actual clinical data behind them.
There's no established "ideal" percentage yet but 1-2% is the evidence-backed range.
Allergy-wise, there is very low risk for this ingredient; it was well-tolerated across the topical trials. Only one participant had mild temporary redness that cleared up on its own and another study reported no adverse reactions at all.
One trial had ~10% of users drop out for irritation was using a combination cream that also had 10% azelaic acid so the irritation likely wasn't from the glutathione. There's no notable contact-allergy signal for topical glutathione in the literature but patch-testing before first use is still sensible for those with sensitive skin.
Learn more about GlutathioneGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWe don't have a description for Trilaureth-4 Phosphate yet.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water