Skin science article
Beauty of Joseon Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel Versus Wishful Yo Glow Facial Enzyme Scrub
Beauty of Joseon Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel Versus Wishful Yo Glow Facial Enzyme Scrub This exfoliator is formulated around Cellulose to control oil. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Cellulose and Bromelain to refine skin texture. What's inside
Beauty of Joseon Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel Versus Wishful Yo Glow Facial Enzyme Scrub
This exfoliator is formulated around Cellulose to control oil.
This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Cellulose and Bromelain to refine skin texture.
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
Propylene Glycol
Alcohol
Bromelain
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Papain
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Citric Acid
Lactic Acid
Malic Acid
Salicylic Acid
Tartaric Acid
Glycolic Acid
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Glycerin
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
Acer Saccharum Extract
Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Citrus Paradisi Seed Extract
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Mannitol
Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract
Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Gluconolactone
Polysorbate 20
Tromethamine
Propanediol
Phenoxyethanol
Benzyl Alcohol
Parfum
Water, Cellulose, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bromelain, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Papain, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Glycolic Acid, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Glycerin, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Citrus Paradisi Seed Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Mannitol, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gluconolactone, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum
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
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.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls. It is used as an emulsifier, absorbent, and texture enhancer.
This ingredient has many functions:
Fun fact: Cellulose is the most abundant form of organic polymer on Earth.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
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.
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!