Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Merle Norman Brilliant-C Toner versus Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry .
Published on July 31, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free toners. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, sensitive skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, 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.
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.
Ingredient Info
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Toner 31 ingredients
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry 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 🎉
Contains Parabens
Ingredients in this product that are types 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:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
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 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Toner 31 ingredients
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry 29 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Toner 31 ingredients
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry 29 ingredients
Water • Propylene Glycol • Ethoxydiglycol • Peg-8 • Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Peg-32 • Butylene Glycol • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Hydrolyzed Soy Protein • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Morus Bombycis Root Extract • Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract • Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract • Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate • Lecithin • Glycerin • Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer • Bisabolol • Disodium EDTA • Trisodium EDTA • Sodium Citrate • Potassium Hydroxide • Citric Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Methylparaben • Propylparaben • Diazolidinyl Urea • Parfum
Water • Ethoxydiglycol • Oleth-10 • Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract • Butylene Glycol • Propylene Glycol • Methyl Gluceth-20 • Citrus Limon Fruit Extract • Saccharum Officinarum Extract • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract • Acer Saccharum Extract • Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract • Panax Ginseng Root Extract • Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract • Allantoin • Sodium PCA • Menthol • Glycereth-26 • Polysorbate 20 • Sodium Lactate • Nonyl Nonoxynol-150 • Phenoxyethanol • Menthyl Lactate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Parfum • Disodium EDTA • Diazolidinyl Urea
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 WaterMerle Norman Brilliant-C Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry contains this as ingredient number 1.
Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may deliver a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolMerle Norman Brilliant-C Toner contains this as ingredient number 2.
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry contains this as ingredient number 6.
Ethoxydiglycol is a synthetic solvent.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Ethoxydiglycol also helps deliver other key ingredients into the skin.
Learn more about EthoxydiglycolMerle Norman Brilliant-C Toner contains this as ingredient number 3.
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry contains this as ingredient number 2.
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.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Toner contains this as ingredient number 7.
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry contains this as ingredient number 5.
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract comes from the cucumber. Cucumis Sativus is native to South Asia and can now be found on every continent.
Cucumbers are mostly made up of water (95%), and the other 5% is composed of: vitamin C, caffeic acid, fatty acids, amino acids, and other minerals.
Cucumbers have anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating properties.
Vitamin C and Caffeic acid are potent antioxidants that may help with anti-aging. Antioxidants help neutralize free-radical molecules, or unstable molecules that may damage our skin cells and DNA.
Cucumbers contain shikimate dehydrigenase, an enzyme shown to help reduce inflammation and soothe the skin. The amino acids help nourish our skin's natural acid mantle. Our acid mantle is formed from the mixing of sebum and sweat. This slightly acidic film acts as a barrier to protect us from bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants.
Unless you have an allergy to cucumbers, it is generally a non-irritating ingredient.
Learn more about Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractMerle Norman Brilliant-C Toner contains this as ingredient number 16.
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry contains this as ingredient number 12.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateMerle Norman Brilliant-C Toner contains this as ingredient number 17.
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry contains this as ingredient number 26.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAMerle Norman Brilliant-C Toner contains this as ingredient number 22.
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry contains this as ingredient number 28.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Toner contains this as ingredient number 27.
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry contains this as ingredient number 24.
Diazolidinyl Urea is a preservative. It can cause irritation and worsen eczema.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Toner contains this as ingredient number 30.
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry contains this as ingredient number 29.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumMerle Norman Brilliant-C Toner contains this as ingredient number 31.
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry contains this as ingredient number 27.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Toner 31 ingredients
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry 29 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Toner 31 ingredients
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry 29 ingredients
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