First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner Versus Tula Skincare Balancing Act Purifying Toner & pH Balancing Toner Pads

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner Versus Tula Skincare Balancing Act Purifying Toner & pH Balancing Toner Pads

This hydrating toner is formulated around Squalane and Colloidal Oatmeal to hydrate skin and calm redness.

This oil-control toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Lactobacillus Ferment and Niacinamide to balance excess oil and strengthen the skin barrier.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Glycereth-26

Squalane

Sorbitan Oleate

Phenoxyethanol

Ethylhexyl Salicylate

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Colloidal Oatmeal

Mel

Saccharomyces/Honey Ferment Filtrate

Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract

Sodium Hydroxide

Potassium Sorbate

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Sodium Benzoate

Citric Acid

Beta-Glucan

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Propolis Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Xanthan Gum

Ethylhexylglycerin

Tetrasodium EDTA

Chlorphenesin

Benzoic Acid

Sorbic Acid

Water, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Squalane, Sorbitan Oleate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Colloidal Oatmeal, Mel, Saccharomyces/Honey Ferment Filtrate, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Beta-Glucan, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Propolis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

Propanediol

Polysorbate 20

Sodium PCA

Lactobacillus Ferment

Niacinamide

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Lactococcus Ferment Lysate

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Beta Vulgaris Root Extract

Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract

Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Carum Carvi Seed Oil

Citrus Aurantifolia Oil

Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice

Inulin

Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Pelargonium Graveolens Extract

Lactic Acid

Rosa Damascena Extract

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Mentha Piperita Oil

Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide

Phytic Acid

Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract

Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract

Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract

Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

Mentha Viridis Extract

Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract

Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract

Lactobacillus

Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract

Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract

Lavandula Angustifolia Flower

Butylene Glycol

Maltodextrin

Gluconic Acid

Yeast Extract

Lauryl Glucoside

Sodium Chloride

Sodium Citrate

Menthyl Lactate

Decyl Glucoside

Caprylyl Glycol

Pentylene Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sodium PCA, Lactobacillus Ferment, Niacinamide, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Carum Carvi Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Inulin, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Lactic Acid, Rosa Damascena Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Mentha Piperita Oil, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Phytic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Sodium Benzoate, Gluconic Acid, Yeast Extract, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Menthyl Lactate, Decyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol

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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.

Benzoic Acid is an organic acid that shows up in cosmetics as a preservative. It helps keep a product from spoiling by holding back the growth of yeast, mold, and some bacteria.

This ingredient also functions as a fragrance ingredient that helps mask the unpleasant scent of other ingredients.

The way it works is worth understanding; benzoic acid works when the formula is acidic. It is able to sneak into a microbe's cell and mess up how it functions to stop it from growing in an acidic product.

However, the acid switches to an inactive form and stops working if a product isn't acidic enough (above ~5 pH). This is why you'll often see it in low pH products or teamed up with other preservatives to cover the gap.

Safety wise, it's one of the better studied preservatives out there.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%.

A large international review found this ingredient had no effects on the human body and had low irritation potential.

Just so you know, real world use is usually much lower than the 5% ceiling (usually 1% of less).

The EU caps it at 2.5% in rinse-off products, 1.7% in oral care, and 0.5% in leave-on products.

One thing worth mentioning (it's nothing to worry about): some people get a little stinging or flushing where they apply it. This isn't a true allergy; it's a temporary and harmless reaction. This is the same kind of mild tingle you might notice from sorbic acid.

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

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.

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).

It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.

On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

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!

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

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