Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Hero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner versus Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads .
Published on March 21, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA
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 need an update? Let us know.
Toner
Toners are used as a “last-step” cleanser, a pH balancer, add moisture to the skin, or may help in reducing impurities on the skin. They have a liquid consistency and are usually used after cleansers but before treatments.
Exfoliator
Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.
Price
Ingredient Info
Hero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner 50 ingredients
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads 29 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Hero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner 50 ingredients
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads 29 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Hero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner 50 ingredients
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads 29 ingredients
Water • Butylene Glycol • Dipropylene Glycol • Glycerin • 1,2-Hexanediol • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Betaine • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water • Hamamelis Virginiana Extract • Zinc PCA • Salix Alba Bark Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate • Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid • Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate • Hyaluronic Acid • Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate • Potassium Hyaluronate • Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer • Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate • Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide • Citrus Junos Fruit Extract • Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract • Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract • Mandelic Acid • Glycolic Acid • Tocopherol • Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil • Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract • Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate • Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract • Bifida Ferment Lysate • Eclipta Prostrata Extract • C12-14 Pareth-12 • Gelatin • Tromethamine • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Allantoin • Trehalose • Pentylene Glycol • Agar • Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum • Acacia Senegal Gum • Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate • Biosaccharide Gum-1 • Cellulose Gum • Carbomer • Ubiquinone • Xanthan Gum • Xanthophylls • Ethylhexylglycerin
Water • Butylene Glycol • Propanediol • Glycerin • Niacinamide • Tromethamine • Benzyl Glycol • Glycolic Acid • Allantoin • Betaine • Tranexamic Acid • Xanthan Gum • 1,2-Hexanediol • Calcium Pantothenate • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate • Houttuynia Cordata Extract • Pyridoxine Hcl • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract • Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate • Illicium Verum Fruit Extract • Hydroxyacetophenone • Citric Acid • Malic Acid • Tartaric Acid • Lactic Acid
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterHero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads contains this as ingredient number 1.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
Hero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner contains this as ingredient number 2.
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads contains this as ingredient number 2.
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 GlycerinHero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner contains this as ingredient number 4.
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads contains this as ingredient number 4.
1,2-Hexanediol is a multi-tasker ingredient. It acts as a preservative to increase shelf-life and can aid other preservatives in preventing microbe growth. 1,2-Hexanediol also helps the skin retain moisture as a humectant.
In products that are water-based, this ingredient can help stabilize perfumes and fragrances. It can also help make the texture of products softer and more smooth.
Hero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner contains this as ingredient number 5.
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads contains this as ingredient number 13.
Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.
Betaine is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies show betaine may help with uneven skin tones.
Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The form found within cosmetic products can be either plant-dervied or synthetic.
Learn more about BetaineHero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner contains this as ingredient number 7.
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads contains this as ingredient number 10.
Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous AHA with research to back up its benefits. Its main role is to peel the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Glycolic Acid has shown to boost collage production, a protein that helps skin stay firm. Overall, Glycolic Acid helps with improving uneven tone, rough patches of skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. It also increases skin hydration by playing a role in creating molecules that create hyaluronic acid naturally.
When applying Glycolic Acid, it is normal to feel slight stinging. The pH value and concentration of glycolic acid play a role in the effectiveness of the product.
Recent studies have shown Glycolic Acid may protect the skin against UV damage. However, you should always wear SPF, especially when using exfoliants.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidHero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner contains this as ingredient number 25.
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads contains this as ingredient number 8.
Tromethamine is an aliphatic compound. An aliphatic compound is an organic compound with open-chained carbon atoms. It is synthetically created. Tromethamine is used to balance pH and improve texture.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineHero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner contains this as ingredient number 35.
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads contains this as ingredient number 6.
Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.
Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.
Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Learn more about AllantoinHero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner contains this as ingredient number 37.
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads contains this as ingredient number 9.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumHero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner contains this as ingredient number 48.
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads contains this as ingredient number 12.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Hero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner contains this as ingredient number 50.
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads contains this as ingredient number 16.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Hero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner 50 ingredients
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads 29 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Hero Cosmetics Balancing Capsule Toner 50 ingredients
Hero Cosmetics Lightning Swipe Dark Spot Brightening Pads 29 ingredients
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