Tula Skincare Get Toned Pro-Glycolic 10% Resurfacing Toner Versus Biossance Squalane + BHA Pore-Minimizing Toner
This smoothing toner is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Lactococcus Ferment Lysate to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
This pore-care toner is formulated around Salix Alba Bark Extract and Squalane to refine the look of pores and balance excess oil.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Agar
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingYogurt Extract
Skin ConditioningCarrageenan
Betaine
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Agar, Glycerin, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Yogurt Extract, Carrageenan, Betaine, Glucose, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingBetaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelissa Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicAmber Powder
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Glycerin, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Squalane, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Betaine Salicylate, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Amber Powder, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citronellol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Curcuma Longa Root Extract comes from the rhizome (underground stem) of the turmeric plant.
While the official EU Cosing Database lists this ingredient as a fragrance, it actually does more than give products a scent.
This ingredient contains a group of yellow pigments called curcuminoids (mostly curcumin) that give it genuine antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in skin.
Reviews of topical clinical studies have found turmeric/curcumin to be generally well-tolerated and useful across conditions like eczema and mild inflammation.
One thing working in its favor is that curcumin barely penetrates; in lab skin-permeation testing, the curcuminoids mostly stayed in the outermost layer of skin. This is a good thing because its soothing and antioxidant activity is a surface-level job anyway.
At this time, industry data shows there's no single "correct" cosmetic percentage. It's used across a wide range depending on the product and varies from tiny fractions of a percent up to a few percent.
Allergy-wise, curcumin is a documented (but uncommon) contact allergen. It can also cross react with related plants, so anyone with a turmeric/ginger/cinnamon allergy or reactive skin should patch test first.
Learn more about Curcuma Longa Root ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium 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
