Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Purely Natural Refreshing Toner versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner .

Published on January 05, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe toners. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain oils

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

Toner American Brand United States
Toner American Brand United States

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 Earth Sourced Purely Natural Refreshing Toner

Starts at $25.00
Shop

Buy Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner

Starts at $23.00

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

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation (2)
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (2)
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening (2)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E (2)
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (3)
Reduces Irritation (4)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing (3)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (5)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating
Eczema (2)
Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Compared

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

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

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

Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Purely Natural Refreshing Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
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

Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Purely Natural Refreshing Toner contains this as ingredient number 2.

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner contains this as ingredient number 14.

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

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 Hyaluronate

Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Purely Natural Refreshing Toner contains this as ingredient number 3.

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner contains this as ingredient number 8.

4
What it does: Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Hydrogenated Lecithin is created from the hydrogenation of lecithin. Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction between molecule hydrogen and another element.

Hydrogenated Lecithin is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps soften skin by trapping moisture within.

The phospholipids in Hydrogenated Lecithin can produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier to be better absorbed.

As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.

Learn more about Hydrogenated Lecithin

Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Purely Natural Refreshing Toner contains this as ingredient number 13.

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner contains this as ingredient number 15.

5
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Purely Natural Refreshing Toner contains this as ingredient number 14.

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner contains this as ingredient number 10.

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.

Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Purely Natural Refreshing Toner contains this as ingredient number 36.

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner contains this as ingredient number 26.

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

69% are loved or liked
6% have mixed ratings
17% are disliked or very disliked
8% have no rating yet
36% are loved or liked
18% have mixed ratings
39% are disliked or very disliked
7% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

Loading routine usage...
Loading routine usage...

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner 28 ingredients

4.3 /5
from 3 reviews
MymyLe's Avatar'
Apr 4, 2024

A lovely moisturizing milky toner. I've put it in a spray bottle and like to apply two layers

A lovely moisturizing milky toner. I've put it in a spray bottle and like to apply two layers

Hydrating
No Scent
Works Well
fahanx's Avatar'
Mar 2, 2024

It is extremely hydrating and it brightened my skin a little bit. However, I think due to the niacinamide in it, it didn’t get rid of the texture on my foraged. Once I stopped using it, the texture cleared up.

It is extremely hydrating and it brightened my skin a little bit. However, I think due to the niacinamide in it, it didn’t get rid of the texture on my foraged. Once I stopped using it, the texture cleared up.

Hydrating
Irritating
Absorbs Well
MichelleR's Avatar'
Nov 10, 2023

Holy Grail.
I started using this toner when I was on Isotretinoin. I got off Isotretinoin one year ago and have refused to let it go. This toner is what water drench and hydro boost are trying to be. After using this my skin feels like a...

Holy Grail.
I started using this toner when I was on Isotretinoin. I got off Isotretinoin one year ago and have refused to let it go. This toner is what water drench and hydro boost are trying to be. After using this my skin feels like a desert that finally got rain. I don't even use cotton pads anymore. I pour it in my hands and directly apply.
Pro Tip: Use two applications during the winter! = )

Of note, I have a lot of allergies. Check my profile for the rundown!

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 9 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Purely Natural Refreshing Toner.

See 9 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 44 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner.

See 44 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...