Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Skin science article

Beauty of Joseon Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel Versus Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Exfoliating Toner

Beauty of Joseon Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel Versus Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Exfoliating Toner This exfoliator is formulated around Cellulose to control oil. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Niacinamide and Melaleuca Alternifolia Le

Beauty of Joseon Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel Versus Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Exfoliating Toner

This exfoliator is formulated around Cellulose to control oil.

This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Niacinamide and Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water to refine skin texture and clear breakouts.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Prunus Mume Flower Water

Cellulose

Methylpropanediol

1,2-Hexanediol

Carbomer

Arginine

Ethylhexylglycerin

Allantoin

Sorbitol

Disodium EDTA

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Houttuynia Cordata Extract

Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract

Oryza Sativa Extract

Prunus Mume Fruit Extract

Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract

Butylene Glycol

Water, Prunus Mume Flower Water, Cellulose, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Sorbitol, Disodium EDTA, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol

Dipropylene Glycol

Glycerin

Niacinamide

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water

Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate

Carica Papaya Fruit Extract

Lens Esculenta Seed Extract

Hamamelis Virginiana Extract

Swiftlet Nest Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Fructan

Adenosine

Hydroxyethyl Urea

Xylitol

Salicylic Acid

Lactobionic Acid

Citric Acid

Sodium Citrate

Benzyl Glycol

Raspberry Ketone

Mentha Piperita Oil

Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fructan, Allantoin, Adenosine, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Xylitol, Salicylic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Mentha Piperita Oil

Reviews

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

Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.

Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.

It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.

Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.

This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.

Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.

Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.

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.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract is also known as Lotus Flower Extract and it's mainly valued as an antioxidant + soothing ingredient for skincare.

It's rich in polyphenols and flavonoids that protect skin against radical damage from UV rays and pollution.

Lab studies on human skin show it calms inflammation by reducing inflammatory signals in skin cells without causing cell damage.

Cell and formulation studies also point to whitening/brightening + anti-wrinkle effects; the extracts from the leaf, seed, and flower showed measurable elastase (wrinkle-related enzyme) and tyrosinase (pigment related enzyme) inhibition.

A cream containing lotus extract also no significant irritation and stayed stable over a month of storage.

Typical usage in cosmetics is usually on the lower end (~0.5-5%) depending on the formula.

Allergy-wise, this ingredient is considered low risk and often included in products made for sensitive/irritated skin. But like any plant extract, it carries a small possibility of contact allergy in people sensitive to plant extracts.

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!

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

01

Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Side-by-side

  1. 01Water
  2. 02Oryza Sativa Bran Water
  3. 03Glycerin
  4. 04Panax Ginseng Root Water
  5. 05Hydrogenated Polydecene
  6. 061,2-Hexanediol
  7. 07Niacinamide
  8. 08Squalane
  9. 09Butylene Glycol
  10. 10Propanediol
  11. 11Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
  12. 12Cetearyl Olivate
  13. 13Sorbitan Olivate
  14. 14Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
  15. 15Xanthan Gum
  16. 16Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
  17. 17Tromethamine
  18. 18Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
  19. 19Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
  20. 20Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Source · skinsort.com
02

Product index

Related product references

03

Comparison edit

Read side by side