Tatcha The Texture Tonic AHA Liquid Exfoliating Treatment Versus Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLuffa Cylindrica Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Sclarea Oil
MaskingFoeniculum Vulgare Oil
EmollientCitrus Aurantifolia Juice
CleansingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingRosa Multiflora Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCymbopogon Martini Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Juice
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingMentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingCrataegus Cuneata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBelamcanda Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-20
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Glyceryl Isostearate
SurfactantPEG-50 Glyceryl Isostearate
CleansingPropanediol
SolventSodium Citrate
BufferingPentasodium Pentetate
Citric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Foeniculum Vulgare Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Juice, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Citrus Limon Juice, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Crataegus Cuneata Fruit Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Belamcanda Chinensis Root Extract, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-20, PEG-30 Glyceryl Isostearate, PEG-50 Glyceryl Isostearate, Propanediol, Sodium Citrate, Pentasodium Pentetate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingArctium Lappa Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantOleth-10
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Adenosine, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Oleth-10, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycolNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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