The Essential Tonic
The La Mer The Essential Tonic is a toner. Our analysis of its 63 ingredients (48 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
Product Ingredient Safety Breakdown (EWG Rating Ratings)
CIR Findings Breakdown
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
|
Algae Extract
(Fragrance, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Methyl Gluceth-20
(Humectant, Moisturising) |
|
|
1
|
|
Glycereth-26
(Humectant, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
|
|
Medicago Sativa Seed Powder
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Helianthus Annuus Seedcake
(Abrasive, Bulking) |
|
|
|
|
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
(Abrasive) |
|
|
2
|
|
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Gluconate
(Chelating Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
2
|
|
Copper Gluconate
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Calcium Gluconate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Magnesium Gluconate
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
3
|
|
Zinc Gluconate
(Cosmetic Biocide, Skin Conditioning, Deodorant) |
|
|
|
A
|
Tocopheryl Succinate
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Niacin
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Smoothing) |
|
|
|
|
Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Aspergillus Ferment
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Lactobacillus Ferment
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Faex Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
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
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
|
Caffeine
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Masking) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Sodium PCA
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Trehalose
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Moisturising) |
|
|
|
|
Ecklonia Cava Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
|
|
|
|
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
(Cleansing, Hair Conditioning, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
|
|
1
|
|
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
(Skin Protecting) |
|
|
1
|
|
Laminaria Digitata Extract
(Skin Protecting) |
|
|
1
|
|
Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Homarine HCl
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Urea
(Buffering Agent, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Erythritol
(Humectant, Moisturising) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sucrose
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
PEG-8
(Humectant, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hydroxyethylcellulose
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Dextrin
(Absorbent, Binding Agent, Bulking Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Polyquaternium-51
(Film Forming, Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
4
|
B
|
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
3
|
B
|
Laureth-3
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
4
|
|
Alcohol Denat.
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Triacetin
(Cosmetic Biocide, Fragrance, Plasticizer, Solvent, Antimicrobial, Film Forming, Masking) |
|
|
|
|
PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
|
|
5
|
|
Linalool
(Fragrance, Deodorant, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
3
|
|
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Citrate
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Chelating, Masking) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Chlorphenesin
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial, Preservative) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
|
|
4
|
A
|
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
3
|
A
|
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
|
|
3
|
|
CI 14700
(Cosmetic Colorant) |
|
|
3
|
|
CI 19140
(Colorant, Cosmetic Colorant) |
|
|
2
|
|
CI 17200
(Cosmetic Colorant) |
