Skin science article
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water Versus Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water Versus Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner This calming essence is formulated around Panax Ginseng Root Water and Niacinamide to calm redness and hydrate skin. This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Sna
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water Versus Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
This calming essence is formulated around Panax Ginseng Root Water and Niacinamide to calm redness and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Snail Secretion Filtrate and Niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.
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
Snail Secretion Filtrate 90%
Dipropylene Glycol
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Centella Asiatica Extract
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Geranium Maculatum Extract
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
Alchemilla Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Helichrysum Italicum Extract
Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract
Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract
Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
Prunus Mume Flower Extract
Robinia Pseudoacacia Flower Extract
Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Phellinus Linteus Extract
Angelica Gigas Root Extract
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
Arbutin
Glutathione
Madecassoside
Madecassic Acid
Asiaticoside
Asiatic Acid
C12-13 Pareth-9
Benzyl Glycol
Raspberry Ketone
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Limonene
Snail Secretion Filtrate 90%, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Helichrysum Italicum Extract, Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Prunus Mume Flower Extract, Robinia Pseudoacacia Flower Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Arbutin, Adenosine, Glutathione, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, C12-13 Pareth-9, Water, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Limonene
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!