Skin science article
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water Versus Numbuzin No.3 Radiance Glowing Jumbo Essence Pad
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water Versus Numbuzin No.3 Radiance Glowing Jumbo Essence Pad This calming essence is formulated around Panax Ginseng Root Water and Niacinamide to calm redness and hydrate skin. This brightening toner pad uses a pre-saturated
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water Versus Numbuzin No.3 Radiance Glowing Jumbo Essence Pad
This calming essence is formulated around Panax Ginseng Root Water and Niacinamide to calm redness and hydrate skin.
This brightening toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Niacinamide and Saccharomyces Ferment to brighten dull-looking skin and refine skin texture.
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
Dipropylene Glycol
Glycereth-26
Methyl Gluceth-20
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Betaine
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Spiraea Ulmaria Extract
Saccharomyces Ferment
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Schizosaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Aspergillus Ferment
Aspergillus/Glucose/Soybean/Starch Ferment Filtrate
Lactococcus/Bean Seed Extract Ferment Filtrate
Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Chlorella Ferment
Lactobacillus/Algae Extract Ferment
Saccharomyces/Grape Ferment Extract
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Lactobacillus/Soybean Extract Ferment Filtrate
Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate
Saccharomyces/Calcium Ferment
Saccharomyces/Laminaria Saccharina Ferment
Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate
Lactobacillus/Eriodictyon Californicum Ferment Extract
Lactobacillus/Water Hyacinth Ferment
Lactobacillus/Rye Flour Ferment
Lactobacillus/Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Ferment Filtrate
Lactobacillus/Milk Ferment Filtrate
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment
Lactobacillus Ferment
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Lactococcus/Milk Ferment Lysate
Lactococcus Ferment
Lactococcus Ferment Extract
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Filtrate
Bifida Ferment Filtrate
Bifida Ferment Extract
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract
Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Bacillus/Glutamic Acid Ferment Filtrate
Bacillus/Rice Bran Extract/Soybean Extract Ferment Filtrate
Monascus/Rice Ferment
Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment Filtrate Extract
Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment
Lactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate
Pichia Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Alteromonas Ferment Extract
Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate
Saccharomyces/Soy Protein Ferment
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Saccharomyces/Malachite Ferment
Tetrahydrocurcumin
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Polyquaternium-51
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Tromethamine
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Citronellol
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Adenosine, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharomyces Ferment, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Schizosaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Aspergillus Ferment, Aspergillus/Glucose/Soybean/Starch Ferment Filtrate, Lactococcus/Bean Seed Extract Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Chlorella Ferment, Lactobacillus/Algae Extract Ferment, Saccharomyces/Grape Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Extract Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Calcium Ferment, Saccharomyces/Laminaria Saccharina Ferment, Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Eriodictyon Californicum Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Water Hyacinth Ferment, Lactobacillus/Rye Flour Ferment, Lactobacillus/Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Milk Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Lactococcus/Milk Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment, Lactococcus Ferment Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Filtrate, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Bifida Ferment Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Bacillus/Glutamic Acid Ferment Filtrate, Bacillus/Rice Bran Extract/Soybean Extract Ferment Filtrate, Monascus/Rice Ferment, Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment Filtrate Extract, Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment, Lactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate, Pichia Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Soy Protein Ferment, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Malachite Ferment, Tetrahydrocurcumin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Dextrin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citronellol
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
Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent.
The way it works is fairly well mapped out:
Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going.
The clinical backing is pretty solid too.
A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months.
A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration.
On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses.
This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization.
Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use.
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.
Dextrin is a starch-derived polysaccharide. It's made by partially breaking down corn, potato, or other plant starches.
Think of it as "half-processed" starch; it's less complex than the original but not fully broken down into sugar like maltodextrin.
In cosmetics, it mainly functions as a bulking agent, viscosity controller, binder, and absorbent. It helps thicken products, stabilize powders, and get certain textures a less "wet" feel.
This ingredient has a pretty solid safety profile; it's recognized as a safe food additive and its large molecular size means it doesn't meaningfully penetrate skin.
Human repeat insult patch tests using a rinse-off facial product containing 42.69% dextrin found no skin irritation or sensitization in 54 subjects.
Typical real-world usage is much lower: usually under 1% as a texture modifier and up to 40% in masks (rinse off products use less).
Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
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!