Belif Problem Solution Toner Versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner

Belif Problem Solution Toner Versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner

This acne toner is formulated around Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil and Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract to clear breakouts and calm redness.

This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Oenothera Biennis Oil and Borago Officinalis Seed Oil to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Dipropylene Glycol

Butylene Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Glycerin

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil

Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Nepeta Cataria Extract

Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract

Baptisia Tinctoria Root Extract

Stellaria Media Extract

Arctium Lappa Root Extract

Echinacea Angustifolia Extract

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract

Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract

Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate

Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate

Centella Asiatica Extract

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Glycine Soja Sprout Extract

Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Panthenol

Alanyl Glutamine

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Octyldodeceth-16

Citric Acid

Sodium Citrate

Trisodium EDTA

Sodium Polyacrylate

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil

Parfum

Citral

Citronellol

Limonene

Geraniol

Linalool

Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Nepeta Cataria Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Baptisia Tinctoria Root Extract, Stellaria Media Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Sprout Extract, Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Alanyl Glutamine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Octyldodeceth-16, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Polyacrylate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Parfum, Citral, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool

Cyclopentasiloxane

Glycereth-26

Dimethiconol

Oenothera Biennis Oil

Borago Officinalis Seed Oil

Tocopheryl Acetate

Tocopherol

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Allantoin

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Niacinamide

Superoxide Dismutase

Myristamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate

Laureth-4

Laureth-23

Disodium EDTA

Sodium Benzoate

Chlorphenesin

Phenoxyethanol

Benzoic Acid

Sorbic Acid

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Dimethiconol, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Superoxide Dismutase, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Myristamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Laureth-4, Laureth-23, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, 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.

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.

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.

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.

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.

As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.

Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.

This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.

A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.

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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