Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk Versus Palmer's Complexion Toner

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk versus Palmer's Complexion Toner .

Published on February 25, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free . They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain common allergens and fragrances

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

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Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk

Palmer's Complexion Toner

General Moisturizer Brand

Toner Brand

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

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

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk 37 ingredients

Palmer's Complexion Toner 19 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

Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk 37 ingredients

Palmer's Complexion Toner 19 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter

AHA

Retinoid

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating

Good For Oily Skin (2)

Redness Reducing (2)

Skin Texture (3)

Reduces Large Pores (3)

Anti-Aging (2)

Dark Spots (4)

Scar Healing (3)

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (6)

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin (4)

Acne Trigger (2)

Irritating (2)

Rosacea (2)

Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

AHA

BHA

Vitamin E

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin (3)

Skin Texture

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Anti-Aging

Dark Spots

Scar Healing (2)

Acne Fighting

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying (3)

May Worsen Oily Skin

Irritating (4)

Rosacea (4)

Eczema (4)

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Ingredients Compared

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

Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk 37 ingredients

Palmer's Complexion Toner 19 ingredients

Water • Glycerin • Niacinamide • Paraffinum Liquidum • Cetearyl Alcohol • Isopropyl Myristate • Ethylhexyl Dimethyl Paba • Stearyl Alcohol • Dimethicone • Glyceryl Stearate • Peg-100 Stearate • Ceteareth-20 • Tocopheryl Acetate • Retinol • Tricholoma Matsutake Extract • Ascorbyl Palmitate • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate • Citric Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Butylene Glycol • Polysorbate 20 • Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Xanthan Gum • Lauryl Glucoside • Ethylhexylglycerin • Propylene Glycol • Disodium EDTA • Parfum • Citronellol • Limonene • Hydroxycitronellal • Butylphenyl Methylpropional • Linalool • Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde • Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

Water • Alcohol Denat. • Hamamelis Virginiana Extract • Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil • Tocopheryl Acetate • Salicylic Acid • Lactic Acid • Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate • Sodium Hydroxide • Tetrasodium EDTA • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenoxyethanol • Parfum • Butylphenyl Methylpropional • Limonene • Benzyl Benzoate • CI 42090 • CI 14700

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.

Water

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

Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk contains this as ingredient number 1.

Palmer's Complexion Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.

Tocopheryl Acetate

What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk contains this as ingredient number 13.

Palmer's Complexion Toner contains this as ingredient number 6.

Phenoxyethanol

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.

Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk contains this as ingredient number 20.

Palmer's Complexion Toner contains this as ingredient number 13.

Ethylhexylglycerin

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk contains this as ingredient number 27.

Palmer's Complexion Toner contains this as ingredient number 12.

Parfum

What it does: Masking, Perfuming

Community Rating: Very Disliked

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 Parfum

Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk contains this as ingredient number 30.

Palmer's Complexion Toner contains this as ingredient number 14.

Limonene

What it does: Perfuming, Solvent

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.

It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".

Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.

When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.

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.

Learn more about Limonene

Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk contains this as ingredient number 32.

Palmer's Complexion Toner contains this as ingredient number 16.

Butylphenyl Methylpropional

What it does: Perfuming

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Butylphenyl Methylpropional is a synthetic fragrance. You might know it as "lilial". The scent of this ingredient is floral-like and similar to the scent of lily flowers.

In March of 2022, the EU banned this ingredient in both rinse-off and leave-on products. This is because research found Butylphenyl Methylpropional to disrupt fertility in rats.

This ingredient is also a known EU allergen, meaning it is likely to cause an allergic reaction. Irritated skin can be damaging.

We always recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns or questions about this ingredient.

Learn more about Butylphenyl Methylpropional

Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk contains this as ingredient number 34.

Palmer's Complexion Toner contains this as ingredient number 15.

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

Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk 37 ingredients

Palmer's Complexion Toner 19 ingredients

19% are loved or liked

11% have mixed ratings

57% are disliked or very disliked

14% have no rating yet

21% are loved or liked

16% have mixed ratings

53% are disliked or very disliked

11% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk 37 ingredients

Palmer's Complexion Toner 19 ingredients

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Milk 37 ingredients

5.0 /5

from 1 rating

Aries

1 year ago · Normal Skin

Review

Worth the money
When I was younger, Ambi and Palmers were my go to products. This fade milk helped keep my skin smooth and even for decades. Of...

Worth the money
When I was younger, Ambi and Palmers were my go to products. This fade milk helped keep my skin smooth and even for decades. Of course, when I got older, I needed something more aggressive, which is the only reason I don’t use it any more.