First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner Versus Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner Versus Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner Detailed comparison of First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner versus Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner. This hydrating toner is formulated around Squalane and Colloidal Oatmeal to hydrate skin and calm redness. This calming toner is formulated around Allantoin and Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract to calm redness and hydrate skin. No key ingredients 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 Propanediol Propylene Glycol Sodium PCA Allantoin Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Chamomilla Recutita Extract Glucose Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder Camphor Urtica Dioica Extract Equisetum Arvense Extract Betula Alba Leaf Extract CI 19140 CI 14700 CI 42090 Water, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Benzoate, Allantoin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Glucose, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Camphor, Urtica Dioica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Betula Alba Leaf Extract, CI 19140, Potassium Sorbate, CI 14700, CI 42090, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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. 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 preser