Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner versus Hero Cosmetics Pore Release .

Last updated on February 19, 2024. Published on January 03, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe . They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA and BHA

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, fragrances, 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 South Korean Brand South Korea
Exfoliator 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.

Exfoliator

Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.

Price

Shop

Buy Acne Exfoliating Toner

Starts at $10.99
Shop

Buy Pore Release

Starts at $19.99

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

AHA (2)
BHA

Benefits

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

Concerns

Drying
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

AHA
BHA
PHA

Benefits

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

Concerns

Drying
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema
Join our community

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

Join SkinSort

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: Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.

Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.

In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

Learn more about Salicylic Acid

Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.

Hero Cosmetics Pore Release contains this as ingredient number 5.

2
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

Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner contains this as ingredient number 2.

Hero Cosmetics Pore Release contains this as ingredient number 1.

3
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.

Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner contains this as ingredient number 3.

Hero Cosmetics Pore Release contains this as ingredient number 2.

4
What it does: Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Arginine is an amino acid that is important for human development. Your body uses is it to produce hair keratin and skin collagen.

As a cosmetic ingredient, Arginine has antioxidant properties and can also help repair damaged skin. This ingredient is derived either synthetically or from animals.

Arginine isn't fungal acne safe when used in the presence of other lipids (fats, fatty acids, oils, esters, etc). Oils and fats occur naturally within the skin, so take caution when using Arginine if you're prone to fungal acne.

Learn more about Arginine

Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner contains this as ingredient number 4.

Hero Cosmetics Pore Release contains this as ingredient number 4.

5
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

Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner contains this as ingredient number 7.

Hero Cosmetics Pore Release contains this as ingredient number 9.

6
What it does: Buffering
Community Rating: Loved

Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous AHA with research to back up its benefits. Its main role is to peel the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Glycolic Acid has shown to boost collage production, a protein that helps skin stay firm. Overall, Glycolic Acid helps with improving uneven tone, rough patches of skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. It also increases skin hydration by playing a role in creating molecules that create hyaluronic acid naturally.

When applying Glycolic Acid, it is normal to feel slight stinging. The pH value and concentration of glycolic acid play a role in the effectiveness of the product.

Recent studies have shown Glycolic Acid may protect the skin against UV damage. However, you should always wear SPF, especially when using exfoliants.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Glycolic Acid

Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner contains this as ingredient number 11.

Hero Cosmetics Pore Release contains this as ingredient number 6.

7
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Disliked

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

Potassium sorbate is potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

Potassium sorbate is often used with stronger preservatives.

Learn more about Potassium Sorbate

Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner contains this as ingredient number 12.

Hero Cosmetics Pore Release contains this as ingredient number 17.

8
What it does: Masking, Preservative
Community Rating: Disliked

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Sodium Benzoate

Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner contains this as ingredient number 13.

Hero Cosmetics Pore Release contains this as ingredient number 18.

9
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

Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner contains this as ingredient number 14.

Hero Cosmetics Pore Release contains this as ingredient number 19.

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

57% are loved or liked
14% have mixed ratings
21% are disliked or very disliked
7% have no rating yet
47% are loved or liked
21% have mixed ratings
16% are disliked or very disliked
16% 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

Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner 14 ingredients

4.7 /5
from 6 ratings
Great Value (2) Light Scent (2) Works Well (2) Absorbs Well (1) Expensive (1) No Scent (1)
Butter's avatar

Butter

3 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

My holygrail exfoliator, this product cleared my skin quickly after a terrible breakout of whiteheads from another product. My skin texture has...

My holygrail exfoliator, this product cleared my skin quickly after a terrible breakout of whiteheads from another product. My skin texture has also improved and my pimples heal quicker. Unlike a lot of exfoliators I've tried, zero irritation, not even tingling. It absorbs well with no sticky finish it does have a weird texture (that I clearly don't know how to describe well) almost like dry water? (Doesn't make sense I know lol) There's also a slight scent, nothing overwhelming but that typically "chemical" smell. The main problem is the price for the shipping (if you live outside the US, if you're in the US this isn't a problem) is extremely expensive ($40) so I did buy a few in bulk (as well as other items) to reduce shipping costs over time.

kamiisamas's avatar

kamiisamas

6 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

paulas choice liquid BHA, but better...? :0
i used to be a PC girlie but the prices have gone a bit out of control. after seeing dr. dray recommend...

paulas choice liquid BHA, but better...? :0
i used to be a PC girlie but the prices have gone a bit out of control. after seeing dr. dray recommend this product as a "dupe", i got it after finishing my PC bottle. i purged a little for maybe 2 days (small pimples, quickly went away) and since then the effect has been the same as PC! i'd argue slightly better because - in my experience - it's less irritating/drying and contains AHA, which my skin loves, so i dont risk drying out as often as i used to! i wouldn't say 'hydrating', but my skin doesn't feel as bare-bones as PC made it. also way cheaper ;)

Hero Cosmetics Pore Release 19 ingredients

1.0 /5
from 1 rating
TimWizard's avatar

TimWizard

2 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

Instantly clogged my pores

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner.

See 50 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Hero Cosmetics Pore Release.

See 50 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...