Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Evens skin tone
- Moisturizing
- Anti-oxidation
- Anti-aging
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-blemish
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: low
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Key actives
Product Summary
"Dr. Barbara Sturm - Balancing Toner" is effective for: Evens skin tone, Anti-oxidation and Moisturizing
This product could be helpful for: Anti-aging, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- An effective concentration of Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) - about 2.10% - 3.10%. Panthenol helps strengthen the skin barrier, improve hydration and reduce inflammation in skin.
- Humectants (biosaccharide gum-1 0.20% - 0.75%, sodium hyaluronate 0.90% - 1.35%, xylitylglucoside 1.20% - 1.80%, panthenol 2.10% - 3.10% and pantolactone 0.05% - 0.25%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "Dr. Barbara Sturm" is cruelty free and so is its parent company.
Price
The product retails from 60.00$ up to 75.00$ in the United States, for 45.00£ in the United Kingdom and for 95.00CA$ in Canada.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Anti-oxidation
This product contains antioxidants (glutathione) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
A peptide that can help neutralize free radicals in skin and reduce melanin production resulting in skin lightening effect and reduction in hyperpigmentation. It can also help attract moisture to the upper layer of the skin
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
A mild yet nurturing, pH balancing-solution that evens skin tone, soothes irritated, sensitive skin, and leaves skin feeling clean and calm.
Source: Sephora
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: glutathione
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually can help even out the skin tone: lactobacillus/portulaca oleracea ferment extract.
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
A peptide that can help neutralize free radicals in skin and reduce melanin production resulting in skin lightening effect and reduction in hyperpigmentation. It can also help attract moisture to the upper layer of the skin
Obtained from fermenting a plant extract with bacteria Lactobacillus. The resulting compound might be able to calm down inflammation and have some anti-oxidant properties, but solid evidence is missing
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
The three pillars of Dr. Barbara Sturm Molecular Cosmetics—hydration, boosting the skin's natural barrier function, and reducing the visible signs of irritation—help to promote healthy skin that glows from within over time.
Source: Sephora
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": biosaccharide gum-1, pantolactone.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and repair the skin barrier function
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and is claimed to provide a longer-lasting hydration because of its ability to create a water-binding film on the surface of the skin
A peptide that can help neutralize free radicals in skin and reduce melanin production resulting in skin lightening effect and reduction in hyperpigmentation. It can also help attract moisture to the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps oil and water mix together, preserve cosmetic products, and attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Anti-aging
This product contains glutathione. This ingredient help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they might be able to prevent early signs of aging (like fine lines and wrinkles), at least to some extent. These ingredients will not be able to "reverse" signs of aging.
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
Pores, Acne and Blemishes, and Oiliness Formulation.
Source: Sephora
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.
Obtained from fermenting a plant extract with bacteria Lactobacillus. The resulting compound might be able to calm down inflammation and have some anti-oxidant properties, but solid evidence is missing
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Moisturizing | |
| Evens skin tone | |
| Anti-blemish |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 66/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
User reviews (0)
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner | Current | $45.00 | |
Doctor Babor Refine Cellular Rebalancing Liquid | 64% | $29.00 | |
TIA'M My Signature Vita B5 Toner | 51% | $17.19 |
Key Actives
Obtained from fermenting a plant extract with bacteria Lactobacillus. The resulting compound might be able to calm down inflammation and have some anti-oxidant properties, but solid evidence is missing
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
A peptide that can help neutralize free radicals in skin and reduce melanin production resulting in skin lightening effect and reduction in hyperpigmentation. It can also help attract moisture to the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and repair the skin barrier function
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and is claimed to provide a longer-lasting hydration because of its ability to create a water-binding film on the surface of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Potential irritants
A preservative that comes from radishes fermented by a bacteria. New research suggests that the preservation properties in the ingredient come from an ammonium salt that is not present naturally in radish root but used in its cultivation. Is problematic because the exact amount of the preservative agents is difficult to determine
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
A peptide that can help neutralize free radicals in skin and reduce melanin production resulting in skin lightening effect and reduction in hyperpigmentation. It can also help attract moisture to the upper layer of the skin
Comedogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
Obtained from fermenting a plant extract with bacteria Lactobacillus. The resulting compound might be able to calm down inflammation and have some anti-oxidant properties, but solid evidence is missing
Helps oil and water mix together, preserve cosmetic products, and attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and repair the skin barrier function
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and is claimed to provide a longer-lasting hydration because of its ability to create a water-binding film on the surface of the skin
A preservative that comes from radishes fermented by a bacteria. New research suggests that the preservation properties in the ingredient come from an ammonium salt that is not present naturally in radish root but used in its cultivation. Is problematic because the exact amount of the preservative agents is difficult to determine
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
A peptide that can help neutralize free radicals in skin and reduce melanin production resulting in skin lightening effect and reduction in hyperpigmentation. It can also help attract moisture to the upper layer of the skin
Ingredient list view
Water, Lactobacillus/portulaca oleracea ferment extract, Hexylene glycol, Capryloyl glycine, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Xylitylglucoside, Sodium hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Magnesium carboxymethyl beta-glucan, Biosaccharide gum-1, Leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, Citric acid, Pantolactone, Glutathione
- Therapeutic Advantages of Medicinal Herbs fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum, in Topical Application and its Activities on Atopic Dermatitis
- Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulations
- Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmetics
- Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging
- Hyaluronan (Hyaluronic Acid): a natural moisturizer for skin care
- Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmetics
- Glutathione as a skin whitening agent: Facts, myths, evidence and controversies
- Glutathione for skin lightening: a regnant myth or evidence-based verity?
- Glutathione for skin lightening for dermatologists and cosmetologists