Merle Norman Gentle Solutions Toner Versus Vivant skin care Skin Nourishing Toner
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe toners. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and niacinamide
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, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
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Ingredient Info
Merle Norman Gentle Solutions Toner 33 ingredients
Vivant skin care Skin Nourishing Toner 24 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Merle Norman Gentle Solutions Toner 33 ingredients
Vivant skin care Skin Nourishing Toner 24 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Proline
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Fructose
HumectantHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantBisabolol
Masking
Urea
Buffering
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientSodium Lactate
BufferingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Glucose
HumectantInositol
HumectantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantLactic Acid
Buffering
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Methyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Trisodium EDTA
Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Adenosine Triphosphate, Acetyl Tyrosine, Niacinamide, Proline, Glycine, Fructose, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Sodium PCA, Bisabolol, Urea, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sodium Lactate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glucose, Inositol, Allantoin, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethoxydiglycol, Lactic Acid, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, PEG-8, Disodium EDTA, Trisodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentSaccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientHoney Extract
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantGlycine
Buffering
Fructose
HumectantUrea
Buffering
Inositol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Propylene Glycol, Mandelic Acid, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Honey Extract, Polysorbate 20, Parfum, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Glycine, Fructose, Urea, Inositol, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid
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 WaterButylene 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.
Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamideThis ingredient is an amino acid that helps build proteins and moisturizes skin. It is already present in our skin as our bodies produce them naturally.
Glycine already plays a role in helping keep our skin moisturized as amino acids transport moisture throughout our skin.
As collagen is made up of glycine and other amino acids, it is believed glycine may help our skin produce more collagen.
Learn more about GlycineSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAUrea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Learn more about UreaSodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateInositol is a sugar alcohol naturally found in the human body. Our bodies use this ingredient in the process of growing new cells.
Studies show inositol to be a key component for keratinocyte growth.
Keratinocytes make up the majority of the outermost layer of skin. These cells protect our skin from UV exposure, infection, and help keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient is also considered a humectant. Humectants help hydrate the skin by drawing moisture to it.
Learn more about InositolLactic Acid is an AHA that is derived from fermenting lactose, a carbohydrate from milk. It removes the top layer of old and dead skin cells and helps increase cell turnover.
Benefits of Lactic Acid are that it can help to reduce large pores and reduce the effects of aging. Some potential downsides are that it can be bad for dry skin, cause irritation, worsen eczema, and worsen rosacea.
Not only does it help exfoliate the skin, it helps strengthen the skin's barrier. When applied, lactic acid helps the skin create ceramides.
Lactic acid is an over-the-counter chemical exfoliant that comes from the fermentation of lactose — a carbohydrate found in milk.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPolysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Propylene 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 GlycolIngredient Ratings
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