Advanced Retinol Toner

Instytutum

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The Instytutum Advanced Retinol Toner is a toner. Our analysis of its 27 ingredients (23 low-risk) rates it Excellent (89/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Toners
Ingredients
27
Low-risk
23
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
Switzerland

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 5/5
Good for dry skin
Sucrose Laurate Rose Extract Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Glycerin Pantolactone
Caution for dry skin
Sucrose Laurate Inulin Lauryl Carbamate Glycerin Sodium Hydroxide Polysorbate 20
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 1/1
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Retinol
Caution for oily/acne-prone skin
Rose Extract
Sensitive Skin 4/12
Good for sensitive skin
Glycerin Allantoin BHT BHA
Caution for sensitive skin
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Glycerin Phenethyl Alcohol Citric Acid Isopropyl Alcohol Benzoic Acid Sodium Benzoate Potassium Sorbate Phenoxyethanol BHT Retinol BHA

Ingredients list

27 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (9)
All27 Skin Conditioning10 Fragrance10 Preservative7 Masking7 Solvent4 Viscosity Controlling3 Ph Adjuster3 Perfuming3
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Rose Extract
(Skin Conditioning Agent Occlusive)
1
A
Panthenol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
A
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
1
Water
(Solvent)
9
A
Retinol
(Skin Conditioning)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Tonic)
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
1
A
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
1
A
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning)
2
A
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
(Emulsion Stabilising, Surfactant)
1
Pantolactone
(Humectant)
3
B
Behentrimonium Chloride
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Preservative)
1
Sucrose Laurate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
3
A
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking)
5
7
BHA
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
2
A
Isopropyl Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Viscosity Controlling)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
3
B
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
6
A
BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking)
3
A
Benzoic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Preservative, Bulking Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Dehydroacetic Acid
(Preservative)
1
B
Phenethyl Alcohol
(Fragrance, Preservative, Masking)
3
A
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative)
3
B
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben

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.
Retinoid
Visibly reduces the signs of aging.

Benefits

HydratingBoosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Scar HealingImproves the look of marks and scars.
Barrier RepairStrengthen and restore your skin's natural barrier.
Reduces IrritationEases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Redness ReducingSoothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Acne FightingFights acne and helps prevent breakouts.
Anti-AgingSoftens lines and helps skin look youthful.
BrighteningRestores radiance to dull, tired skin.

Concerns

Contains paraben
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
Retinol — higher EWG
BHA — higher EWG
May not suit sensitive skin

EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →

Ingredients explained

Rose Extract
Skin-conditioning agent - occlusive
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin-conditioning agent - occlusive
Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin conditioning, Tonic
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioningTonic
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Emollient, Masking
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmollientMaskingPerfumingSkin conditioningSolvent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Deodorant, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A DeodorantSkin conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Chelating agent, Viscosity controlling
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Chelating agentViscosity controlling
Carbomer
Emulsion stabilising, Viscosity increasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Emulsion stabilisingViscosity increasing agentGel formingViscosity controlling
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion stabilising, Surfactant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Emulsion stabilisingSurfactant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Humectant
Behentrimonium Chloride
Antistatic agent, Hair conditioning
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B Antistatic agentHair conditioningPreservative
Sucrose Laurate
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioningEmollientEmulsifyingSurfactant
Sodium Benzoate
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A FragrancePreservativeAnticorrosiveMasking
Sodium Hydroxide
Denaturant, Ph adjuster
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B DenaturantPh adjusterBuffering agent
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Preservative
Phenethyl Alcohol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B FragrancePreservativeMasking
+ 1 more — see the full ingredients list above
Panthenol
Antistatic agent, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Antistatic agentHair conditioningSkin conditioning Good for Dry Skin
Allantoin
Skin conditioning, Skin protecting
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningSkin protectingSoothing Good for Oily SkinGood for Sensitive Skin
Retinol
Skin conditioning
Potentially a skin irritantRead moreShow less
EWG 9 CIR A Skin conditioning 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
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
BHA
Antioxidant, Fragrance
Higher-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 5–7 AntioxidantFragranceMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin
Isopropyl Alcohol
Antifoaming agent, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Antifoaming agentFragranceSolventViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingViscosity controlling Bad for Sensitive Skin
BHT
Antioxidant, Fragrance
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 6 CIR A AntioxidantFragranceMasking
Benzoic Acid
Fragrance, Ph adjuster
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A FragrancePh adjusterPreservativeBulking agentMasking 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

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Use right after cleansing, before serums.
  • 2 Evening: Use at night — start 2–3× a week and build up as your skin tolerates it.
  • 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

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Often avoided
Retinoids (Vitamin A) (Retinol)

Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.

This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.

Effective levels — general guide

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

Retinoids (Vitamin A) 0.01–1%

Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.

Retinol

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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