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SEPHORA COLLECTION Gentle PH Balancing Toner
SEPHORA COLLECTION

SEPHORA COLLECTION Gentle PH Balancing Toner

Efficacy37/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing
Glycerin, Hydrolyzed algin + 4 more
Works
What the product description says
“A purifying toner with chlorella from natural origin to hydrate and smooth the look of skin and help remove traces of pollution, while respecting skin’s natural pH.”
Source: Sephora

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, hydrolyzed algin.

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).

GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~3.4–5.1%
Hydrolyzed alginKey active· HumectantEffect: MediumDerived from brown algae. Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.4–0.95%
Chlorella vulgaris extractKey activeEffect: MediumA plant extract that can help to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties~0.1–0.4%
Butylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowUsed to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin~2.7–4%
Laminaria digitata extractUnder-dosedSeaweed extract that helps the skin to attract water and make it more smooth for touch. Also shows promise of anti-aging properties, but good research is lacking at the moment~0.1–0.5%
Saccharide isomerateUnder-dosedHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.05–0.3%
Evens skin tone
No ingredient credited for this claim
Not delivered
What the product description says
“It hydrates, smooths, and evens out the look of your complexion.”
Source: Sephora

Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
1 strong irritant: Parfum
Medium risk
We flagged 9 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.6–1.4%est.
Phenethyl alcoholA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.65%est.
Ci 19140A yellow dyeHigh~0.01–0.1%est.
Caprylyl/capryl glucosideHelps oil and water mix together. Can be used as a cleansing agentMedium~2.1–3.2%est.
Levulinic acidHelps stabilize a product formulationMedium~0.9–1.4%est.
Sodium levulinateA preservativeMedium~0.5–1.2%est.
Chlorella vulgaris extractA plant extract that can help to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory propertiesMedium~0.1–0.4%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.05–0.2%est.
Ci 42090A colorant (dye)Medium~0.05–0.15%est.
Comedogenic
3 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
3 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Hydrolyzed alginDerived from brown algae. Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin3/5~0.4–0.95%est.
Laminaria digitata extractSeaweed extract that helps the skin to attract water and make it more smooth for touch. Also shows promise of anti-aging properties, but good research is lacking at the moment3/5~0.1–0.5%est.
Chlorella vulgaris extractA plant extract that can help to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties3/5~0.1–0.4%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Poloxamer 184~5.3–8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Poloxamer 184
Glycerin~3.4–5.1%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Butylene glycol~2.7–4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Butylene glycol
Caprylyl/capryl glucoside~2.1–3.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together. Can be used as a cleansing agent

More about Caprylyl/capryl glucoside
Sodium benzoate~0.25–0.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative

More about Sodium benzoate
Maris aqua~1.4–2.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Sea water. Helps dissolve other ingredients in a product

More about Maris aqua
Sea water~1.1–1.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Dissolves other ingredients. It does not have additional skin benefits compared to plain water

More about Sea water
Levulinic acid~0.9–1.4%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps stabilize a product formulation

More about Levulinic acid
Parfum~0.6–1.4%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Sodium levulinate~0.5–1.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Sodium levulinate
Hydrolyzed algin~0.4–0.95%
Key activeComedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
Moisturizing

Derived from brown algae. Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Hydrolyzed algin
Xanthan gum~0.35–0.85%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum
Sodium hydroxide~0.2–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to adjust the product's pH

More about Sodium hydroxide
Phenethyl alcohol~0.15–0.65%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Phenethyl alcohol
Laminaria digitata extract~0.1–0.5%
Under-dosedComedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-aging

Seaweed extract that helps the skin to attract water and make it more smooth for touch. Also shows promise of anti-aging properties, but good research is lacking at the moment

More about Laminaria digitata extract
Chlorella vulgaris extract~0.1–0.4%
Key activeComedogenic 3/5Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-inflammatory

A plant extract that can help to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

More about Chlorella vulgaris extract
Saccharide isomerate~0.05–0.3%
Under-dosed
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Saccharide isomerate
Citric acid~0.05–0.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH

More about Citric acid
Ci 42090~0.05–0.15%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A colorant (dye)

More about Ci 42090
Ci 19140~0.01–0.1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A yellow dye

More about Ci 19140
Ingredient list view

Water, Poloxamer 184, Glycerin, Butylene glycol, Caprylyl/capryl glucoside, Sodium benzoate, Maris aqua, Sea water, Levulinic acid, Parfum, Sodium levulinate, Hydrolyzed algin, Xanthan gum, Sodium hydroxide, Phenethyl alcohol, Laminaria digitata extract, Chlorella vulgaris extract, Saccharide isomerate, Citric acid, Ci 42090, Ci 19140

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
SEPHORA COLLECTIONGentle PH Balancing TonerYOUR PRODUCTBonjourBiome Shield Cera TonerHanskinReal Complexion Hyaluron Skin Essence - Korean SkincareBYOMAHYDRATING MILKY TONER
Match—40%39%39%
Price—$18.80$17.50$14.99
Shared key ingredients—2 of 22 of 22 of 2
Key difference—AdenosineHydrolyzed CollagenPanthenol
Irritancy Medium High Low Low
Drying alcohol————
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 4 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Safety Assessment of Plant Polysaccharide Gums as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
  3. 3
    Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Phenethyl Alcoholsemanticscholar.org
  4. 4
    Analysis of Dyes in Cosmetics: Challenges and Recent Developmentsmdpi.com
SEPHORA COLLECTION Gentle PH Balancing Toner
SEPHORA COLLECTIONGentle PH Balancing Toner
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