Anua Azelaic Acid 3 Cica Skin Clarifying Toner Versus Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Toner : AHA + BHA

Anua Azelaic Acid 3 Cica Skin Clarifying Toner Versus Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Toner : AHA + BHA

This acne toner is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and calm redness.

This smoothing toner is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and clear breakouts.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Azelaic Acid

1,2-Hexanediol

Sodium Hydroxide

Propylene Glycol

Salicylic Acid

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Propanediol

PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24

Butylene Glycol

Disodium EDTA

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Glycerin

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Cynanchum Atratum Extract

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil

Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Ethylhexylglycerin

Althaea Rosea Flower Extract

Docosahexaenoic Acid

Citric Acid

Tocopherol

Madecassoside

Centella Asiatica Extract

Panthenol

Glycine Soja Protein

Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract

Asiaticoside

Allantoin

Ectoin

Glycyrrhizic Acid

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Succinic Acid

Zinc PCA

O-Cymen-5-Ol

Sodium Hyaluronate

Glycolic Acid

Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Centella Asiatica Root Extract

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Polyglutamic Acid

Xylose

Asiatic Acid

Madecassic Acid

Totarol

Squalane

Chlorella Vulgaris Extract

Ceramide NP

Water, Azelaic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Propanediol, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Madecassoside, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Glycine Soja Protein, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Asiaticoside, Allantoin, Ectoin, Glycyrrhizic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Succinic Acid, Zinc PCA, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolic Acid, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglutamic Acid, Xylose, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Totarol, Squalane, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Ceramide NP

Prunus Mume Fruit Water

Dipropylene Glycol

Tromethamine

Hydroxyacetophenone

Vigna Radiata Seed Extract

Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract

Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract

Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract

Corallina Officinalis Extract

C12-14 Pareth-12

Xanthan Gum

Octyldodeceth-16

Water, Prunus Mume Fruit Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Salicylic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, C12-14 Pareth-12, Xanthan Gum, Octyldodeceth-16

Reviews

Alternatives

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

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.

Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.

This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:

On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.

One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).

Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.

You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.

Ethylhexylglycerin 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.

Glycerin (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.

Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with tons of research backing its benefits.

It is found naturally in sugar cane but the form used in skincare is usually synthetic for purity and stability.

Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells to allow newer and fresher ones to emerge.

AHAs work by breaking down the structural “glue” that holds old skin cells in place. When that buildup is gone, your skin can renew itself more efficiently.

Research also shows glycolic acid stimulates collagen production, helping to firm and thicken the skin over time. This is one of its biggest advantages over other AHAs.

Overall, glycolic acid helps with:

Fun fact: Glycolic acid boosts skin hydration by helping it produce molecules that increase hyaluronic acid naturally.

To work best, glycolic acid products should have a pH between 3-4 (that’s where exfoliation is most effective but still gentle on skin).

The pH and concentration of a product are key to its effectiveness:

It is normal to feel a slight stinging sensation when using glycolic acid. This usually fades as your skin adjusts.

Because glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in the AHA family, it can penetrate deeper, which enhances its effectiveness but also makes it more likely to irritate sensitive skin.

If your skin is very sensitive or prone to rosacea, glycolic acid may be too strong; in that case, try milder options like lactic acid or a PHA instead.

Recent studies suggest glycolic acid might even help protect against UV damage. But don’t skip sunscreen! Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun.

Glycolic acid is a skincare superstar. It smooths, brightens, hydrates, and firms the skin. Unless you’re highly sensitive, it’s well worth adding to your routine.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract is from the Neem tree. Neem trees originate from India.

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.

The flowers of this tree are lilac colored.

This ingredient is also known as neem leaf extract. It contains natural compounds like nimbidin, quercetin, and other polyphenols that give it antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activity.

Lab studies have shown neem leaf extract can inhibit acne-related bacteria and help calm skin. Animal studies on wound gels using 1-3% neem leaf extract found it sped up healing without causing irritation.

A wound-healing study testing gels with the extract at 1%, 2%, and 3% concentrations and found none of them irritated the skin.

Most commercial products also use it in a similar low range (typically under 5%).

Allergy-wise, there are some case reports on neem oil causing allergic contact dermatitis so people with plant/botanical sensitivities may want to patch test first.

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.

Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.

Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

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