Sk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) - Original Versus Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner
Updated on November 20, 2023
Overview
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin and sensitive skin
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain parabens
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Ingredient Info
Sk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) 7 ingredients
Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner 12 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Sk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) 7 ingredients
Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner 12 ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Sk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) 7 ingredients
Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner 12 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Sk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) 7 ingredients
IT'S EXPENSIVE BUT WORTH THE MONEY!!!!
I'm the kind of person who is willing to go all out and drop some money for good skincare if I know I will use up every drop and love it. I've tried a lot of snail mucin products (my oily acne-prone skin LOVES it) and this one is different! I've tried the COSRX and the Peach Slices and both don't compare to this. Peach Slices have a similar texture while Show more
good product, but i don’t notice a difference between this and the much cheaper COSRX option.
Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner 12 ingredients
This product doesn’t reduce my redness at all. I still use it because it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and it’s not irritating. It only becomes irritating if I apply it after I shave, which is normal.
