Skin science article
Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner Versus Paula's Choice Calm Repairing Serum
Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner Versus Paula's Choice Calm Repairing Serum This calming toner is formulated around Houttuynia Cordata Extract and Panthenol to calm redness and hydrate skin. This calming serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Ceram
Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner Versus Paula's Choice Calm Repairing Serum
This calming toner is formulated around Houttuynia Cordata Extract and Panthenol to calm redness and hydrate skin.
This calming serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Ceramide NP to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Houttuynia Cordata Extract 77%
Water
1,2-Hexanediol
Glycerin
Betaine
Panthenol
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Butylene Glycol
Vitex Agnus Castus Extract
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Phellinus Linteus Extract
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
Isopentyldiol
Methylpropanediol
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Tromethamine
Disodium EDTA
Houttuynia Cordata Extract 77%, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Betaine, Panthenol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Butylene Glycol, Vitex Agnus Castus Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Isopentyldiol, Methylpropanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Polysorbate 20
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
PEG/PPG-14/4 Dimethicone
Xanthan Gum
Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
Ceramide NP
Ethylhexylglycerin
Epilobium Angustifolium Extract
Ceramide AP
Cholesterol
Phytosphingosine
Beta-Glucan
Sarcosine
Carbomer
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower Extract
Sea Whip Extract
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Hyaluronic Acid
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Ceramide EOP
Magnesium Aspartate
Potassium Aspartate
Ubiquinone
Phenoxyethanol
Caprylyl Glycol
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Calcium Chloride
Propylene Glycol
Tocopherol
Sodium Metabisulfite
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Sodium Benzoate
Potassium Sorbate
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG/PPG-14/4 Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Beta-Glucan, Sarcosine, Carbomer, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower Extract, Sea Whip Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ceramide EOP, Magnesium Aspartate, Potassium Aspartate, Ubiquinone, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Calcium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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
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%.
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.
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!