This brightening toner is formulated around Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and calm redness.
This acne toner is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Lactobionic Acid to clear breakouts and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Water
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantBetaine
HumectantOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingJuniperus Mexicana Oil
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMenadione
MaskingThiamine Hcl
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Hydroxyacetophenone, Betaine, Octyldodeceth-16, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Trehalose, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Riboflavin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Menadione, Thiamine Hcl, Citronellol, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingSalicylic Acid
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingLactobionic Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Lactose
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Seed Extract
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Extract
AstringentPelargonium Graveolens Extract
MaskingUncaria Tomentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningAgrimonia Eupatoria Extract
AstringentCorydalis Turtschaninovii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract
PerfumingNepeta Cataria Extract
TonicMadecassoside
AntioxidantCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingWater, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arginine, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, C12-14 Pareth-12, Lactobionic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Lactose, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Panthenol, Lonicera Caprifolium Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Uncaria Tomentosa Extract, Agrimonia Eupatoria Extract, Corydalis Turtschaninovii Root Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract, Nepeta Cataria Extract, Madecassoside, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
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
Disodium 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 HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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