This oil-control toner is formulated around Zinc Oxide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to balance excess oil.
This brightening toner is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Zinc Gluconate to brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Succinic Acid
BufferingDisodium Succinate
MaskingO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Menthol
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hectorite
AbsorbentSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Water, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Zinc Oxide, Succinic Acid, Disodium Succinate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Menthol, Disodium EDTA, Chondrus Crispus Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Hectorite, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Asiaticoside, Citric Acid, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Disodium Succinate
MaskingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingMethylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Succinic Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Styrene/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Menthol
Masking
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
HumectantCalcium Chloride
AstringentPotassium Chloride
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Acrylic Acid
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Silica, Disodium Succinate, Potassium Hydroxide, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Succinic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Arginine, Menthol, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Propylene Glycol, Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Calcium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Copper Gluconate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Acrylic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAWe don't have a description for Disodium Succinate yet.
Menthol is a compound found in mint plants, such as peppermint. In its pure form, it is a clear crystalline substance.
Menthol is known for its cooling sensation; however, the cooling is actually from your skin being sensitized. Menthol can worsen rosacea. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Menthol also has antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about MentholPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSuccinic acid is an odorless white powder. It is naturally found in our bodies but can also be derived from living organisms.
Succinic acid is water-soluble. The pH level of this ingredient is between 4.2 and 5.6.
While succinic acid posesses antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, these properties have not been studied in skincare products.
Fun fact: Succinic acid was known as the 'spirit of amber' in the past. This is because it used to be derived from distilling amber.
Learn more about Succinic AcidWater. 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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
