Anua Peach 77 Niacin Essence Toner Versus Paula's Choice Calm Nourishing Milky Toner

Anua Peach 77 Niacin Essence Toner Versus Paula's Choice Calm Nourishing Milky Toner

This brightening toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Alpha-Arbutin to brighten dull-looking skin.

This calming toner is formulated around Panthenol and Allantoin to calm redness and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Prunus Persica Fruit Water 77%

2,3-Butanediol

Water

Glycerin

Dipropylene Glycol

Niacinamide

Butylene Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Lactobacillus Ferment

Methylpropanediol

Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment

Prunus Persica Fruit Extract

Pyrus Malus Juice

Bifida Ferment Lysate

Bacillus Ferment

Phellinus Linteus Extract

Xylose

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate

Alpha-Arbutin

Prunus Persica Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Propanediol

Squalane

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Diphenyl Dimethicone

Triethylhexanoin

Ethylhexylglycerin

Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate

Adenosine

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Tromethamine

Sodium Polyacrylate

Panthenol

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Ceramide NP

Allantoin

Cyanocobalamin

Polyglutamic Acid

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Tocopherol

Betaine Salicylate

Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Maltodextrin

Glycine

Serine

Glutamic Acid

Aspartic Acid

Leucine

Alanine

Lysine

Arginine

Tyrosine

Phenylalanine

Proline

Theanine

Valine

Isoleucine

Histidine

Cysteine

Methionine

Xanthan Gum

Parfum

Prunus Persica Fruit Water 77%, 2,3-Butanediol, Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Methylpropanediol, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Juice, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Bacillus Ferment, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Xylose, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Alpha-Arbutin, Prunus Persica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Propanediol, Squalane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tromethamine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ceramide NP, Allantoin, Cyanocobalamin, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopherol, Betaine Salicylate, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Maltodextrin, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Theanine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Xanthan Gum, Parfum

Pentylene Glycol

C13-15 Alkane

Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate

Ceteth-20 Phosphate

Sodium PCA

Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract

Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Cetearyl Alcohol

Dicetyl Phosphate

Althaea Officinalis Root Extract

Sodium Phytate

Pantolactone

Phenoxyethanol

Water, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, C13-15 Alkane, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Ceteth-20 Phosphate, Sodium PCA, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Maltodextrin, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Pantolactone, Phenoxyethanol

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.

Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.

Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.

It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.

Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.

This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.

Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.

Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.

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.

Maltodextrin is a plant-derived carbohydrate made by breaking down starch (usually from corn, potato, or rice). In cosmetic formulas, it's a multitasking absorbent, emulsion stabilizer, and skin conditioner.

This ingredient is mostly used to stabilize emulsions and improve the powdery, non-greasy feel of products (like dry shampoos).

Safety-wise, this ingredient is pretty solid; it's even recognized as a food additive. Both animal and clinical studies found no adverse effects at the levels used in cosmetics.

Industry data shows this ingredient is used up to 45.7% in spray products and up to 33% in powder products.

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Sodium 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.

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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