Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Skin science article

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner Versus Caudalie Vinopure Natural Salicylic Acid Pore Minimizing Toner

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner Versus Caudalie Vinopure Natural Salicylic Acid Pore Minimizing Toner This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Oenothera Biennis Oil and Borago Officinalis Seed Oil to strengthen the skin barrier and ca

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner Versus Caudalie Vinopure Natural Salicylic Acid Pore Minimizing Toner

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

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

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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

Alcohol Denat.

Rosa Damascena Flower Water

Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water

Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside

Vitis Vinifera Juice

Salicylic Acid

Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil

Lavandula Hybrida Oil

Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil

Mentha Piperita Oil

Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Phytate

Arginine

Citric Acid

Citral

Citronellol

Geraniol

Limonene

Linalool

Water, Alcohol Denat., Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Vitis Vinifera Juice, Salicylic Acid, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Phytate, Arginine, Citric Acid, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool

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.

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.

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!

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

01

Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Explained

  1. 01These ingredients are found in both products.
  2. 02Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
  3. 031,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
  4. 04It is a:
  5. 05Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
  6. 06Emollient, helping to soften skin
  7. 07Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
  8. 08Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
  9. 09Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
  10. 10Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
  11. 11Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
  12. 12One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
  13. 13While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
  14. 14The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% be…
  15. 15Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
  16. 16Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at…
  17. 17Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
  18. 18Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
02

Product index

Related product references

03

Comparison edit

Read side by side

Continue reading

Related articles