Skin science article
Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence Versus Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence Versus Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner This hydrating essence is formulated around Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier. This
Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence Versus Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
This hydrating essence is formulated around Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This pore-care toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to refine the look of pores and balance excess oil.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Triethylhexanoin
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
1,2-Hexanediol
Methylpropanediol
Butylene Glycol
Glycerin
Trilaureth-4 Phosphate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Polyquaternium-51
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Dextrin
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Ceramide NP
Tocopherol
Water, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol
Niacinamide
Polysorbate 20
Adenosine
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Arctium Lappa Seed Oil
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Sodium PCA
Panthenol
Ceramide AP
Ceramide EOP
Phytosphingosine
Cholesterol
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Oleth-10
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Caprylyl Glycol
Hexylene Glycol
Sodium Citrate
Xanthan Gum
Trisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Adenosine, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Oleth-10, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium EDTA, 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.
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.
Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
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.
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!