Good Light Moon Glow Milky Toning Lotion Versus Pacifica Vegan Collagen Hydrating Milk Tonic

Good Light Moon Glow Milky Toning Lotion Versus Pacifica Vegan Collagen Hydrating Milk Tonic

This hydrating toner is formulated around Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil and Ceramide NP to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.

This hydrating essence is formulated around Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil

Ceramide NP

Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract

Niacinamide

Sodium Hyaluronate

Panthenol

Urea

Allantoin

Tocopherol

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil

Rose Flower Oil

Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract

Hovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract

Citrus Limon Fruit Extract

Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract

Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Phenoxyethanol

Propanediol

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Canola Oil

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Sodium Lactate

Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate

Carbomer

Pentylene Glycol

Xylitylglucoside

Arginine

Anhydroxylitol

Xylitol

Ceramide AP

1,2-Hexanediol

Myrtus Communis Oil

Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil

Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Extract

Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract

Rosa Canina Fruit Oil

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Jasminum Officinale Oil

Citrus Grandis Peel Oil

Persea Gratissima Oil

Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Ethylhexylglycerin

Disodium EDTA

Water, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Urea, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Hovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Canola Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Lactate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Carbomer, Pentylene Glycol, Xylitylglucoside, Arginine, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Myrtus Communis Oil, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA

Glyceryl Stearate Se

Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract

Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Arnica Montana Flower Extract

Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters

Pullulan

Sclerotium Gum

Xanthan Gum

Lecithin

Silica

Polysorbate 20

Maltodextrin

Parfum

Water, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Propanediol, Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Pullulan, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Silica, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum

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.

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.

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.

In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.

Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:

Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.

Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.

You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.

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