This smoothing toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Gluconolactone and Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores.
This calming toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Niacinamide and Houttuynia Cordata Extract to calm redness and refine the look of pores.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantBeta Vulgaris Root Extract, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Trehalose, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Gluconolactone, Allantoin, Glycolic Acid, Dextrin, Cyanocobalamin, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingAureobasidium Pullulans Ferment
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract
HumectantTriticum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingBrassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Cellulose
AbsorbentSuccinic Acid
BufferingVincetoxicum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHonokiol
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantLotus Corniculatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantQuercetin
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panthenol, Propanediol, Allantoin, Caffeine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Phaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium EDTA, Cellulose, Succinic Acid, Vincetoxicum Atratum Extract, Cellulose Gum, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Honokiol, Tocopherol, Lotus Corniculatus Seed Extract, Sorbitol, Quercetin
Reviews
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.
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 preservatives
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAHydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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 Gum