Skin science article
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil Versus Donginbi Red Ginseng Moisture Cleansing Oil
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil Versus Donginbi Red Ginseng Moisture Cleansing Oil This oil-based cleanser is made to cleanse without leaving your skin tight or dry. What's inside Key Ingredients Benefits Concerns Ingredients Side-by-side Glycine Soja O
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil Versus Donginbi Red Ginseng Moisture Cleansing Oil
This oil-based cleanser is made to cleanse without leaving your skin tight or dry.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycine Soja Oil
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Isododecane
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
Octyldodecanol
Polybutene
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Water
Tocopherol
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Panax Ginseng Seed Oil
Artemisia Vulgaris Oil
Ocimum Basilicum Oil
Corylus Avellana Seed Oil
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Butylene Glycol
Panax Ginseng Berry Extract
Glycerin
1,2-Hexanediol
Methylpropanediol
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Ethyl Hexanediol
Panax Ginseng Extract
Panax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract
Ethylhexylglycerin
Glycine Soja Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Isododecane, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Octyldodecanol, Polybutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Water, Tocopherol, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Panax Ginseng Seed Oil, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Corylus Avellana Seed Oil, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ethyl Hexanediol, Panax Ginseng Extract, Panax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Zea Mays Germ Oil
Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
Phenyl Trimethicone
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Parfum
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Isohexadecane
Isooctane
Limonene
Panax Ginseng Root Oil
Citronellol
Linalool
Geraniol
Hexyl Cinnamal
Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Panax Ginseng Root Water
Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Aspergillus Ferment
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isododecane, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Parfum, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Isohexadecane, Isooctane, Limonene, Panax Ginseng Root Oil, Citronellol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Tocopherol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Water, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Aspergillus Ferment
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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
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%.
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.
Isododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Ginseng root is a well-loved ingredient in Asian skincare for good reason. It hydrates the skin, soothes irritation, and helps even out skin tone.
In traditional East Asian medicine, ginseng has been used for centuries both as food and as a healing remedy, and modern research continues to confirm its skin benefits.
One of the standout features of ginseng is its ability to improve blood circulation and oxygen delivery to the skin, bringing a fresh supply of nutrients to support overall skin health. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This helps to protect your skin against damage from UV exposure, pollution, and daily stress.
Additionally, studies suggest that ginseng may help reduce hyperpigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme involved in melanin production.
There are different types of ginseng used in skincare, and while they all share core benefits, their potency can vary.
Most products use fresh or white ginseng because it’s more affordable. However, red ginseng, produced by steaming the root, contains higher levels of ginsenosides, which are compounds with proven anti-aging effects. These ginsenosides help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin elasticity.
Note: All forms of ginseng are listed simply as “Panax ginseng” in ingredient lists. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about which type of ginseng is used in their ingredients.
For general antioxidant benefits, any ginseng extract will do, but for wrinkle care or firmer skin, red or fermented ginseng is often more effective.
In short, ginseng is a powerhouse ingredient that supports hydration, radiance, and resilience.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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!