COSRX Refresh AHA BHA Vitamin C (ABC) Daily Toner Versus Paula's Choice Moisture Boost Essential Hydrating Toner

COSRX Refresh AHA BHA Vitamin C (ABC) Daily Toner Versus Paula's Choice Moisture Boost Essential Hydrating Toner

This smoothing toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.

This hydrating toner is formulated around Superoxide Dismutase and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to hydrate skin and calm redness.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract

Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract

Salix Alba Bark Water

Pyrus Malus Fruit Water

Butylene Glycol

Niacinamide

1,2-Hexanediol

Ethyl Hexanediol

Sodium Lactate

Water

Glycolic Acid

Allantoin

Panthenol

Adenosine

Betaine Salicylate

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Salix Alba Bark Water, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Sodium Lactate, Water, Glycolic Acid, Allantoin, Panthenol, Adenosine, Betaine Salicylate, Ascorbyl Glucoside

Glycerin

Pentylene Glycol

Polysorbate 20

Superoxide Dismutase

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract

Sodium PCA

Creatine

Lecithin

Linoleic Acid

Linolenic Acid

Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Tocopheryl Acetate

PEG-4

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Phenoxyethanol

Water, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Superoxide Dismutase, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Sodium PCA, Creatine, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Allantoin, PEG-4, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol

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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.

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.

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.

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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