Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Skin science article

Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner Versus Paula's Choice Resist Advanced Replenishing Toner

Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner Versus Paula's Choice Resist Advanced Replenishing Toner This calming toner is formulated around Houttuynia Cordata Extract and Panthenol to calm redness and hydrate skin. This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Linolei

Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner Versus Paula's Choice Resist Advanced Replenishing Toner

This calming toner is formulated around Houttuynia Cordata Extract and Panthenol to calm redness and hydrate skin.

This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Linoleic Acid and Phospholipids to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.

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

Cyclopentasiloxane

Glycereth-26

Polysorbate 20

Dimethiconol

Linoleic Acid

Oleic Acid

Linolenic Acid

Phospholipids

Carnosine

Epigallocatechin Gallate

Genistein

Sodium Hyaluronate

Sphingolipids

Ferulic Acid

Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Acetyl Glucosamine

Quercetin

Oenothera Biennis Oil

Beta Vulgaris Root Extract

Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract

Lecithin

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Hydrolyzed Corn Starch

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Palmitic Acid

Xanthan Gum

Laureth-23

Laureth-4

Aminomethyl Propanol

Sodium Benzoate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Phenoxyethanol

Chlorphenesin

Benzoic Acid

Sorbic Acid

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Polysorbate 20, Dimethiconol, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Phospholipids, Carnosine, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Genistein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sphingolipids, Ferulic Acid, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Quercetin, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract, Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Laureth-23, Laureth-4, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid

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.

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.

As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.

It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.

A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.

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%.

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!

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

01

Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Side-by-side

  1. 01Water
  2. 02Propanediol
  3. 03Butyloctyl Salicylate
  4. 04Azelaic Acid 10%
  5. 05Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
  6. 06Glycerin
  7. 07Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
  8. 08Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
  9. 09Glyceryl Caprylate
  10. 10Sodium Anisate
  11. 11Sodium Levulinate
  12. 12Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
  13. 13Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
  14. 14Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
  15. 15Xanthan Gum
  16. 16Sodium Phytate
  17. 17Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
  18. 18Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
  19. 19Water, Propanediol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Azelaic Acid 10%, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Rosa Canina Fruit Extra…
  20. 20Azelaic Acid
Source · skinsort.com
02

Product index

Related product references

03

Comparison edit

Read side by side