Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner Versus CARE:NEL Cicavita B5 Tranexamic Acid Toner
Updated on September 27, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe toners. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain BHA, hyaluronic acid and PHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, 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, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
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
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner 22 ingredients
CARE:NEL Cicavita B5 Tranexamic Acid Toner 22 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
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner 22 ingredients
CARE:NEL Cicavita B5 Tranexamic Acid Toner 22 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantBetaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Melaleuca Cajaputi Extract
TonicHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Watermelon Fruit Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningIpomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Gluconolactone, Sodium Polyglutamate, Betaine Salicylate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Melaleuca Cajaputi Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Lactobacillus/Watermelon Fruit Ferment Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Sorbitan Oleate, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Parfum
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol 1%
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid 1%
Astringent
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Dipropylene Glycol
MaskingParfum
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Betaine
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Linalool
Perfuming
Centella Asiatica Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Panthenol 1%, Tranexamic Acid 1%, Water, Gluconolactone, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Glycerin, Tromethamine, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Parfum, Salicylic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglutamic Acid, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GluconolactoneGlycerin 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid is naturally found in healthy skin. It is a humectant, meaning it draws moisture to your skin.
This ingredient helps hydrate, soothe, and protect the skin.
What makes hyaluronic acid so hydrating? It has the capacity to bind or hold large amounts of water.
Fun fact: It is already naturally found in our bodies, such as the fluids of our eyes and our joints.
Studies find this ingredient to have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. This can help speed up wound-healing.
Hyaluronic acid can be irritating if the molecule has a low-molecular weight, or if the molecules are small.
One study found low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid to be pro-inflammatory, meaning some people may experience irritation. This is because our bodies use hyaluronic acid in the wound-healing process to signal to our bodies, via irritation, that something needs healing.
The same study found high-molecular weight hyaluronic acid to be anti-inflammatory.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumIngredient Ratings
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When to use
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner 22 ingredients
CARE:NEL Cicavita B5 Tranexamic Acid Toner 22 ingredients
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