Facial Purifying Tonic

Carbon Theory

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The Carbon Theory Facial Purifying Tonic is a toner. Our analysis of its 23 ingredients (9 low-risk) rates it Excellent (94/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to dry skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Toners
Ingredients
23
Low-risk
9
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United Kingdom
Data updated
Jun 2026

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 3/3
Good for dry skin
Glycerin Sodium Lactate Lactic Acid
Caution for dry skin
Glycerin Polysorbate 20 Heptyl Glucoside
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin No data
Sensitive Skin 1/7
Good for sensitive skin
Glycerin
Caution for sensitive skin
Glycerin Citric Acid Sodium Benzoate Potassium Sorbate Lactic Acid Phenoxyethanol Limonene

Ingredients list

23 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (6)
All23 Skin Conditioning13 Fragrance10 Humectant4 Perfuming4 Solvent3 Buffering Agent3 Preservative3 Tonic2
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
3
B
Sodium Lactate
(Buffering Agent, Exfoliant, Humectant, Keratolytic)
4
B
Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
Heptyl Glucoside
(Surfactant)
3
B
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
(Moisturising, Skin Conditioning)
2
A
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
2
A
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
(Antioxidant, Perfuming)
1
A
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning)
Acer saccharum extract
(Skin Conditioning)
salix alba bark extract
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Soothing, Tonic)
Spiraea Ulmaria Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
(Fragrance, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning)
Citrus Limon Fruit Oil
(Astringent, Tonic)
3
A
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative)
3
A
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking)
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
6
Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent)
Allergens
Allergens

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

Antioxidants
Shields skin from free radical damage.
AHA
Exfoliates skin for a brighter complexion.
Vitamin E
Protects skin and soothes irritation.

Benefits

HydratingBoosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Good For Oily SkinBalances oil and helps reduce shine.
Dark SpotsFades dark spots for even skin tone.
Anti-AgingSoftens lines and helps skin look youthful.
BrighteningRestores radiance to dull, tired skin.
Scar HealingImproves the look of marks and scars.
Barrier RepairStrengthen and restore your skin's natural barrier.
Acne FightingFights acne and helps prevent breakouts.

Concerns

Contains paraben
Contains eu allergen
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
May not suit sensitive skin

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Sodium Lactate
Buffering agent, Exfoliant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B Buffering agentExfoliantHumectantKeratolytic
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Heptyl Glucoside
Surfactant
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Surfactant
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
Moisturising, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A MoisturisingSkin conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragranceSkin conditioning
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragranceSkin conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant, Perfuming
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AntioxidantPerfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Deodorant, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A DeodorantSkin conditioning
Acer saccharum extract
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioning
salix alba bark extract
Astringent, Hair conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AstringentHair conditioningSkin conditioningSoothingTonic
Spiraea Ulmaria Leaf Extract
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioning
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Fragrance, Perfuming
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragrancePerfumingSkin conditioning
Citrus Limon Fruit Oil
Astringent, Tonic
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AstringentTonic
Potassium Sorbate
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A FragrancePreservative
+ 2 more — see the full ingredients list above
Lactic Acid
Exfoliant, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B ExfoliantFragranceHumectantPh adjusterSkin-conditioning agent -humectantSkin conditioningBuffering agent Bad for Sensitive Skin
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Citric Acid
Chelating agent, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Chelating agentFragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Limonene
Deodorant, Perfuming
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 6 DeodorantPerfumingSolvent Allergens

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Use right after cleansing, before serums.
  • 2 Evening, start slow: Best in the PM a few times a week to begin with; avoid layering with other strong actives the same night.
  • 3 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

AHA (acid exfoliant) 5–10% (OTC)

OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.

Lactic Acid

INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.

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