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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Muji Light Toning Water versus Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water .

Published on November 24, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe toners. They have a total of 14 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Toner Japanese Brand Japan
Toner Japanese Brand Japan

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.

Price

Shop

Buy Light Toning Water

Starts at $18.40
Shop

Buy High Moisturizing Toning Water

Starts at $8.59

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Scar Healing
Brightening

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Scar Healing
Brightening
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

Muji Light Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 1.

Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Masking, Solvent
Community Rating: Disliked

Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created stabilizer and solvent. It is a part of the glycol class in the alcohol family.

Dipropylene Glycol helps dissolve and evenly distribute ingredients. It also helps decrease viscosity and thin out texture.

As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.

Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.

Learn more about Dipropylene Glycol

Muji Light Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 2.

Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Muji Light Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 3.

Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 3.

4
What it does: Humectant, Solvent

We don't have a description for Peg-32.

Muji Light Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 4.

Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 4.

5
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising

We don't have a description for Glycosyl Trehalose.

Muji Light Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 5.

Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 6.

6
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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.

Muji Light Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 6.

Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 8.

7
What it does: Humectant

We don't have a description for Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate.

Muji Light Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 7.

Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 7.

8
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.

Sodium Citrate helps maintain the pH of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

Sodium Citrate is a chelating agent. It neutralizes metal ions from water and prevents them from binding to other ingredients. This ensures the other ingredients will not be altered.

Learn more about Sodium Citrate

Muji Light Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 8.

Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 12.

9
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid and is naturally occurring on human skin.

The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.

Sodium PCA is a has 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 PCA

Muji Light Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 9.

Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 10.

10
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing
Community Rating: Loved

Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.

Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.

Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Learn more about Allantoin

Muji Light Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 10.

Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 11.

11
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Muji Light Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 11.

Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 14.

12
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Muji Light Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 12.

Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 9.

13
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Polyquaternium-51 is a polymer salt. It helps hydrate the skin by creating a film on top. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.

Muji Light Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 13.

Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 13.

14
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Portulaca Oleracea Extract is an extract of the whole plant of the Purslane, Portulaca oleracea L., Portulacaceae. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hydrating properties.

Purslane is very nutritious. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, NMFs, many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The vitamins found in purslane include: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E.

Purslane is a succulent with an extensive habitat. It is used in traditional Korean medicine to treat irritated skin.

Nowadays, it is becoming a superfood due to its highly nutritious content.

Learn more about Portulaca Oleracea Extract

Muji Light Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 15.

Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water contains this as ingredient number 16.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

40% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
20% are disliked or very disliked
27% have no rating yet
47% are loved or liked
12% have mixed ratings
18% are disliked or very disliked
24% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

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Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Muji Light Toning Water.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Muji High Moisturizing Toning Water.

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