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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Nourishing Milky Toner versus Thayers Hydrating Milky Face Toner with Snow Mushroom and Hyaluronic Acid .

Published on July 20, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe toners. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening 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 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 Nourishing Milky Toner

Shop

Buy Hydrating Milky Face Toner with Snow Mushroom and Hyaluronic Acid

Starts at $9.97

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 (2)
Scar Healing
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema
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Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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

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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

Paula's Choice Nourishing Milky Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.

Thayers Hydrating Milky Face Toner with Snow Mushroom and Hyaluronic Acid 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 Nourishing Milky Toner contains this as ingredient number 3.

Thayers Hydrating Milky Face Toner with Snow Mushroom and Hyaluronic Acid contains this as ingredient number 2.

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 Nourishing Milky Toner contains this as ingredient number 14.

Thayers Hydrating Milky Face Toner with Snow Mushroom and Hyaluronic Acid contains this as ingredient number 6.

4
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.

Paula's Choice Nourishing Milky Toner contains this as ingredient number 18.

Thayers Hydrating Milky Face Toner with Snow Mushroom and Hyaluronic Acid contains this as ingredient number 16.

5
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 Nourishing Milky Toner contains this as ingredient number 21.

Thayers Hydrating Milky Face Toner with Snow Mushroom and Hyaluronic Acid contains this as ingredient number 17.

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

62% are loved or liked
10% have mixed ratings
10% are disliked or very disliked
19% have no rating yet
26% are loved or liked
5% have mixed ratings
63% are disliked or very disliked
5% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Paula's Choice Nourishing Milky Toner 21 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 1 rating
Hydrating (1) Irritating (1)
MichelleR's avatar

MichelleR

5 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

It's a beautiful milky texture, but it caused a stinging sensation for me. I have desert dry skin and thought it would be a step up from the...

It's a beautiful milky texture, but it caused a stinging sensation for me. I have desert dry skin and thought it would be a step up from the Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner. My skin barrier was compromised from multiple nights of retinol, so I opted to go for this to help barrier repair. It was the first thing I put on my skin after cleansing, and was surprised when it started to sting. Although I am allergic to most things, it doesn’t cause breakouts for me. But I wonder what ingredient is causing it to sting 🤔, maybe the alcohol?

Thayers Hydrating Milky Face Toner with Snow Mushroom and Hyaluronic Acid 19 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 1 rating
Great Value (1) Hydrating (1) Light (1)
faulmag's avatar

faulmag

14 days ago · Dry Skin
Review

Not a bad product, but I also don't feel like it does much and I think it does increase redness a little. Nice for light hydration.

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