SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Essence Toner Versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner
This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.
This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Oenothera Biennis Oil and Borago Officinalis Seed Oil to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTrehalose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Phytate
ChelatingCitric Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSucrose Distearate
EmollientMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantLauric Acid
CleansingAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBetaine
HumectantHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingBenzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantRaspberry Ketone
MaskingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Trehalose, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sucrose Distearate, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Lauric Acid, Asiatic Acid, Phytosterols, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, Hydroxystearic Acid, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Raspberry Ketone, Phytosphingosine
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantDimethiconol
EmollientOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingMyristamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Skin ConditioningLaureth-4
EmulsifyingLaureth-23
CleansingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingSodium Benzoate
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Dimethiconol, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Superoxide Dismutase, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Myristamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Laureth-4, Laureth-23, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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