Educational guide
Acure Ultra Hydrating Cucumber & Hyaluronic Superfine Mist Versus Biossance Squalane + BHA Pore-Minimizing Toner
Acure Ultra Hydrating Cucumber & Hyaluronic Superfine Mist Versus Biossance Squalane + BHA Pore-Minimizing Toner This hydrating toner is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier. This pore-care toner is formulated ar
This guide cannot diagnose a condition or recommend a personal treatment plan. Discuss medical questions with a qualified professional.
Acure Ultra Hydrating Cucumber & Hyaluronic Superfine Mist Versus Biossance Squalane + BHA Pore-Minimizing Toner
This hydrating toner is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This pore-care toner is formulated around Salix Alba Bark Extract and Squalane to refine the look of pores and balance excess oil.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Sodium Benzoate
Potassium Sorbate
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Water, Glycerin, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Squalane
Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
Betaine Salicylate
Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
Amber Powder
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Sodium Chloride
Citric Acid
Sodium Gluconate
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Citronellol
Water, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Glycerin, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Squalane, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Betaine Salicylate, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Amber Powder, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citronellol
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Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water is the water (or juice) pressed from cucumber. It has skin conditioning properties that offers gentle hydration.
Cucumbers are about 95% water. The other 5% has some pretty nice things for skin like vitamin C, caffeic acid, and flavonoids that all have antioxidant activity.
A 2011 study found that cucumber fruit juice can fight free radicals and help protect two proteins that keep skin firm and plump (hyaluronic acid and elastin). This is why it's sometimes considered a potential anti-wrinkle ingredient.
Since this ingredient is usually used at low concentrations (up to 3%), it acts more as a soothing and skin conditioning ingredient than a powerhouse active.
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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
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.
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!