Skin science article
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water Versus La Mer The Treatment Lotion
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water Versus La Mer The Treatment Lotion This calming essence is formulated around Panax Ginseng Root Water and Niacinamide to calm redness and hydrate skin. This hydrating treatment is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water Versus La Mer The Treatment Lotion
This calming essence is formulated around Panax Ginseng Root Water and Niacinamide to calm redness and hydrate skin.
This hydrating treatment is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Panax Ginseng Root Water
Butylene Glycol
Glycerin
Propanediol
Niacinamide
1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Hydroxyacetophenone
Glyceryl Glucoside
Xanthan Gum
Panthenol
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Allantoin
Adenosine
Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Dextrin
Glucose
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Panax Ginseng Berry Extract
Lactobacillus/Panax Ginseng Root Extract Ferment Filtrate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Disodium EDTA
Panax Ginseng Root Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Adenosine, Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Dextrin, Glucose, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Lactobacillus/Panax Ginseng Root Extract Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA
Algae Extract
Methyl Gluceth-20
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
Sucrose
Faex Extract
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Medicago Sativa Seed Powder
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
Helianthus Annuus Seedcake
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Sodium Gluconate
Copper Gluconate
Calcium Gluconate
Magnesium Gluconate
Zinc Gluconate
Tocopheryl Succinate
Niacin
Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Plankton Extract
Palmaria Palmata Extract
Caffeine
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Glycereth-26
Alcaligenes Polysaccharides
Trehalose
Lactobacillus Ferment
Maris Sal
Tourmaline
Urea
Sodium PCA
Glycine Soja Protein
Glycosaminoglycans
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Caprylyl Glycol
PEG-8
Magnesium Chloride
Calcium Chloride
Sodium Sulfate
Potassium Phosphate
Potassium Nitrate
Pentylene Glycol
Triacetin
Lecithin
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Polysorbate 20
Polyquaternium-51
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
Alcohol Denat.
Parfum
Limonene
Linalool
Hydroxycitronellal
Citronellol
Geraniol
BHT
Potassium Sorbate
Chlorphenesin
Sorbic Acid
Phenoxyethanol
Water, Algae Extract, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sucrose, Faex Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Plankton Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glycereth-26, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Trehalose, Lactobacillus Ferment, Maris Sal, Tourmaline, Urea, Sodium PCA, Glycine Soja Protein, Glycosaminoglycans, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-8, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Sulfate, Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Nitrate, Pentylene Glycol, Triacetin, Lecithin, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Polysorbate 20, Polyquaternium-51, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Alcohol Denat., Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Geraniol, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
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.
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.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
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%.
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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
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!