Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Unscented Toner Versus Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Unscented Toner versus Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner .

Last updated on July 28, 2023. Published on January 09, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe toners. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens 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.

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Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Unscented Toner

Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner

Toner American Brand United States

Toner Brand

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.

Toner

Price

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Unscented Toner 9 ingredients

Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner 29 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

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Unscented Toner 9 ingredients

Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner 29 ingredients

Benefits

Hydrating

Brightening

Benefits

Hydrating

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation (2)

Scar Healing

Brightening

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin

Irritating

Rosacea

Eczema

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Unscented Toner 9 ingredients

Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner 29 ingredients

Water • Glycerin • Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract • Phenoxyethanol • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Citric Acid • Potassium Hydroxide

Water • Alcohol Denat. • Peg-8 • Ppg-5-Ceteth-20 • Butylene Glycol • Glycerin • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract • Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract • Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf Extract • Allantoin • Panthenol • Methyldihydrojasmonate • Isobutyl Methyl Tetrahydropyranol • Triethanolamine • Disodium EDTA • Ethyl Linalool • Ethylene Brassylate • Citronellyl Acetate • Cyclamen Aldehyde • Gamma-Undecalactone • Methyl Dimethylmethylenecyclohexane Carboxylate • Methylenedioxyphenyl Methylpropanal • Phenoxyethanol • Simethicone • Citric Acid • Sodium Benzoate • Cyclopentasiloxane • Benzophenone-4 • CI 14700

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Water

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

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Unscented Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.

Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.

Glycerin

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

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Unscented Toner contains this as ingredient number 2.

Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner contains this as ingredient number 6.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is an extract of the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae.

You may know Aloe to be a good sunburn reliever and inflammation reducer. This is because it contains many components that are known to help reduce irritation and itchiness. These include vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, and more. The high water content of aloe also helps give a cooling effect.

Aloe contains the antioxidants Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins neutralize free radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.

The aloe plant is naturally abundant in polysaccharides, a carbohydrate made of sugar molecules. Polysaccharides help hydrate your skin by mimicking your skin's natural carbohydrates.

As it is easily absorbed by the skin, aloe is a great moisturizer. It is both a humectant and emollient. Emollients help trap moisture in your skin, keeping your skin soft. Humectants draw water from the air to your skin.

Other components of aloe include sugars such as monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, choline, many common minerals such as calcium, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.

Aloe does not protect against UV rays, despite it soothing sunburns.

There are over 420 species of aloe but Aloe Barbadensis is the most commonly used for topical products.

Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Unscented Toner contains this as ingredient number 4.

Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner contains this as ingredient number 7.

Phenoxyethanol

What it does: Preservative

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Unscented Toner contains this as ingredient number 5.

Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner contains this as ingredient number 23.

Citric Acid

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

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Unscented Toner contains this as ingredient number 8.

Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner contains this as ingredient number 25.

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

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Unscented Toner 9 ingredients

Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner 29 ingredients

44% are loved or liked

11% have mixed ratings

33% are disliked or very disliked

11% have no rating yet

17% are loved or liked

3% have mixed ratings

38% are disliked or very disliked

41% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Unscented Toner 9 ingredients

Mary Kay Botanical Effects Refreshing Toner 29 ingredients

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Unscented Toner 9 ingredients

4.0 /5

from 2 ratings

Great Value (1)

DamDamfino

3 months ago · Combination Skin

Review

I first starting using Thayer's witch hazel when it was in the old packaging. (circa...2010?)
At first I *loved* the new packaging because it's...

I first starting using Thayer's witch hazel when it was in the old packaging. (circa...2010?)
At first I *loved* the new packaging because it's unique and gives that old-timey vintage feel that's totally my thing.
But after using the new packaging, I hate it. The cap ALWAYS breaks at the hinge. And the cute mini travel-sized bottle is not travel-safe. It leaks if it's not upright.

I've never found Thayer's witch hazel irritating or drying.
In fact, it feels like water on my skin and leaves my skin very fresh and supple. It can help dry out my oily zones without over-drying my dry zones. And I find it very calming and soothing.

I can't use micellar water because they break me out - so sometimes this *IS* my micellar water. It's better than going to bed with makeup on when I'm lazy and tired.
And I genuinely do feel like it keeps my skin happier than when I don't use it.