Good Light Moon Glow Milky Toning Lotion Versus Thayers Hydrating Milky Face Toner with Snow Mushroom and Hyaluronic Acid
This hydrating toner is formulated around Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil and Ceramide NP to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This hydrating toner is formulated around Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Rose Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Canola Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Myrtus Communis Oil
Masking
Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil
Antimicrobial
Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
ChelatingWater, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Urea, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Hovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Canola Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Lactate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Carbomer, Pentylene Glycol, Xylitylglucoside, Arginine, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Myrtus Communis Oil, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sambucus Nigra Flower Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Citric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sambucus Nigra Flower Water, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Polysorbate 20, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
