This calming toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Centella Asiatica Extract to calm redness and clear breakouts.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Water
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantFragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantMenthol
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, C12-14 Alketh-12, Butylene Glycol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Betaine, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Menthol, Sodium Citrate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Beta-Glucan, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
AntioxidantAloe Ferox Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningRaffinose
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Betaine
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Raffinose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Beta-Glucan, Madecassoside, Ceramide NP, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Beta-Glucan is a soluble polysaccharide (a chain of glucose sugars) sourced from the cells walls of oats, baker's yeast, mushrooms, and seaweed.
It's a rare ingredient that pulls double-duty as a heavy-duty hydrator and skin-soothing repair agent.
On the surface, it acts as a humectant that holds water in place and reduces moisture loss for a plumper, smoother feel, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a great pick for calming redness or sensitive skin
The more interesting story is underneath:
Despite its large molecular size, oat beta-glucan has been shown to penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis by slipping between skin cells. Here, it interacts with fibroblasts and macrophages to nudge collagen synthesis and support wound repair.
A small 2005 split-face clinical study of 27 subjects found topical beta-glucan produced measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, height, and roughness after 8 weeks of use.
It is worth noting the trial was small and the penetration testing used frozen, irradiated skin so the anti-aging data is encouraging rather than definitive.
This ingredient gets along with pretty much everything and is typically used around 0.1-1%.
Fungal acne: This ingredient is not a food source for the Malassezia yeast because it is a glucose polysaccharide with no fatty acid or ester component.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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