Skin science article
B.LAB Cica Soft Meltaway Cleansing Balm Versus Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm
B.LAB Cica Soft Meltaway Cleansing Balm Versus Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm This oil-based makeup remover is made to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and daily buildup. What's inside Key Ingredients Benefits Concerns Ingredients Side-by-side Ethylhexyl
B.LAB Cica Soft Meltaway Cleansing Balm Versus Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm
This oil-based makeup remover is made to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and daily buildup.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Triethylhexanoin
Glycerin
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Water
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Kaolin
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Centella Asiatica Extract
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Sodium Hyaluronate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Sucrose Stearate
Sucrose Laurate
Sucrose Myristate
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Butylene Glycol
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Dipropylene Glycol
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Fructooligosaccharides
Beta-Glucan
1,2-Hexanediol
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Triethylhexanoin, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Water, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Kaolin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sucrose Stearate, Sucrose Laurate, Sucrose Myristate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta-Glucan, 1,2-Hexanediol
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Synthetic Wax
PEG-10 Isostearate
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Oryza Sativa Seed Water
Propanediol
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Oryza Sativa Extract
Avena Sativa Meal Extract
Ethylhexylglycerin
Caprylyl Glycol
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Synthetic Wax, PEG-10 Isostearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Water, Oryza Sativa Seed Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Butylene Glycol, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol
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Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
Emollient, helping to soften skin
Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!