Versus

Hero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner Versus Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner

Toner
Toner
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on July 18, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe toners. They have a total of 3 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

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, common allergens, 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

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant 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

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Balancing Capsule Toner

Water

Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Dipropylene Glycol

Masking

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Betaine

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Hamamelis Virginiana Extract

Antiseborrhoeic
Can worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Zinc PCA

Humectant
Good for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne Icon

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Astringent
Good for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Hyaluronic Acid

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate

Potassium Hyaluronate

Skin Conditioning

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide

Emulsion Stabilising
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Citrus Junos Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract

Cleansing

Mandelic Acid

Antimicrobial
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Glycolic Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract

Humectant
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Bifida Ferment Lysate

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Eclipta Prostrata Extract

Skin Conditioning

C12-14 Pareth-12

Emulsifying

Gelatin

Tromethamine

Buffering

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Allantoin

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Trehalose

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Agar

Masking

Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum

Emulsion Stabilising

Acacia Senegal Gum

Masking

Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate

Biosaccharide Gum-1

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Cellulose Gum

Emulsion Stabilising
0 / 0

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising
1 / 0

Ubiquinone

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Xanthophylls

Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning
Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin 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 Glycerin
Astringent, Skin Conditioning, Soothing

Salix Alba Bark Extract comes from the white willow tree, which is native to Europe and Central Asia.

Salix Alba Bark Extract has often been described as salicylic acid's cousin. This is due to the salicin it contains. However, studies are limited showing salix alba bark to be an effective salicylic acid alternative.

Salicin does have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has shown to decrease the formation of inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and nuclear factor-kappa B. Salicin also has a mildly exfoliating effect on the skin.

Several other components in salix alba bark extract also contain antioxidant properties, such as flavonoids and polyphenols. Antioxidants may help with anti-aging as they neutralize harmful free-radical molecules.

Willow Bark extract has been used for thousands of years. Ancient civilizations used white willow to help treat pain and fevers.

Learn more about Salix Alba Bark Extract
Humectant, Moisturising, Skin Conditioning

Hyaluronic 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 Acid

When to use

62 Routines
56% use in am
44% use in pm
97% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
1,834 Routines
53% use in am
47% use in pm
91% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Hero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner 50 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Irritating (1) Light (1)
Halo777's avatar

Halo777

5 months ago
Review

Felt really good on my skin and absorbed quickly but for some reason left rashy and itchy patches after I had gone through about half the bottle?

#irritating
#light
#absorbs well
#no scent

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner 22 ingredients

3.8 /5
from 29 ratings
Hydrating (11) Works Well (11) Absorbs Well (10)
Ninamujer's avatar

Nina

1 year ago
Review

I don't understand this product.
After doing skincare for over a decade, I've tried hundreds of products (yes, my wallet isn't happy). This product was one of the worst out of these hundreds. Most products I've tried are alright. This one was truly not good. It has a strong scent, didn't absorb, and just didn't do anything positive for my skin at all. I gave it 2 weeks and stopped when I started Show more

SandyD's avatar

SandyD

1 year ago
Review

First toner I actually saw a difference with my skin over time. It helped with my larger pores and light texture. Definitely recommend for oily & combination skin. Its a great option to add some exfoliation in your routine while staying really hydrating from the texture of the product + it smells great! It really surprised m. I am at my 3rd bottle

#hydrating
#absorbs well
#light scent