The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Toner Versus Thayers Witch Hazel Facial Toner

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Toner Versus Thayers Witch Hazel Facial Toner

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

This calming toner is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract to calm redness and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

No key ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycolic Acid

Propanediol

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

Sodium Hydroxide

Butylene Glycol

Phenoxyethanol

Alcohol

PPG-26-Buteth-26

Betaine

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract

Ethylhexylglycerin

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Water, Glycolic Acid, Propanediol, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Betaine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Glycerin

Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Potassium Hydroxide

Caprylyl Glycol

Citric Acid

Polysorbate 20

Water, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, 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.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

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.

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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