Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner Versus Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner Versus Clarins Hydrating Toning Lotion

This pore-care toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to refine the look of pores and balance excess oil.

This hydrating toner is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice to hydrate skin and calm redness.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

No key ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Propanediol

Propylene Glycol

PPG-26-Buteth-26

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Ethylhexylglycerin

Maris Aqua

Parfum

Disodium EDTA

Limonene

Phenethyl Alcohol

Laminaria Digitata Extract

Linalool

Ficus Carica Fruit Extract

Citric Acid

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Chlorella Vulgaris Extract

Geraniol

Saccharide Isomerate

Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

Citral

Citronellol

Coumarin

Crocus Sativus Flower Extract

Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propanediol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maris Aqua, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Limonene, Phenethyl Alcohol, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Linalool, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Geraniol, Saccharide Isomerate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract

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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.

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.

Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.

Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).

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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.

Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.

The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).

Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

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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