The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution Versus Aesop B & Tea Balancing Toner
Updated on July 21, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe toners. They have a total of 3 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution 42 ingredients
Aesop B & Tea Balancing Toner 26 ingredients
What's inside
What's inside
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution 42 ingredients
Aesop B & Tea Balancing Toner 26 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Alanine
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
BufferingFructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Hexyl Nicotinate
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentCitric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Gellan Gum
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycolic Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Aminomethyl Propanol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glutamic Acid, Arginine, PCA, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Urea, Hexyl Nicotinate, Dextrin, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Gellan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbitol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Benzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Polysorbate 80, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Lactate, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitol, Panthenol, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Benzoic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Benzalkonium Chloride, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Farnesol, Geraniol, Eugenol, Isoeugenol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidSodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateWater. 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 WaterIngredient Ratings
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When to use
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution 42 ingredients
Aesop B & Tea Balancing Toner 26 ingredients
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