Merle Norman Brilliant-C Toner Versus Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry
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 and sensitive skin
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
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Ingredient Info
Merle Norman Brilliant-C Toner 31 ingredients
Merle Norman AHA Toner Normal/Dry 29 ingredients
About this product
About this product
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
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPEG-8
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-32
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Morus Bombycis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentSaxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lecithin
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Trisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
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
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantOleth-10
EmulsifyingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
HumectantCitrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
HumectantMenthol
Masking
Glycereth-26
HumectantPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Lactate
BufferingNonoxynol-9
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Menthyl Lactate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Oleth-10, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Citrus Medica Limonum 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, Nonoxynol-9, Phenoxyethanol, Menthyl Lactate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterPropylene 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 develop a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolEthoxydiglycol 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 EthoxydiglycolButylene 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.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
This extract comes from cucumber. 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-inflammatory, barrier repair, and hydrating properties.
They contain shikimate dehydrigenase, an enzyme shown to help reduce inflammation and soothe the skin.
The amino acids found in cucumbers help nourish our skin's natural acid mantle (it's an important part of our skin barrier). This slightly acidic film acts as a barrier to protect us from bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants.
Unless you have an allergy to cucumbers, this is generally a non-irritating ingredient.
Fun fact: Cucumis Sativus is native to South Asia and can now be found on every continent.
Learn more about Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractSodium 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 HyaluronateDisodium 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 EDTAPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
Diazolidinyl Urea is a preservative. It can cause irritation.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient 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.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or '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 by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
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 ParfumIngredient Ratings
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