Skin science article
Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk Versus innisfree Green Tea Ceramide Milk Barrier Essence
Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk Versus innisfree Green Tea Ceramide Milk Barrier Essence This hydrating toner is formulated around Oryza Sativa Extract and Panthenol to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier. This barrier-repair essence is f
Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk Versus innisfree Green Tea Ceramide Milk Barrier Essence
This hydrating toner is formulated around Oryza Sativa Extract and Panthenol to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This barrier-repair essence is formulated around Niacinamide and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Methylpropanediol
Propanediol
1,2-Hexanediol
Glycerin
Glycereth-26
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Oryza Sativa Extract
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Panthenol
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Aluminum Chlorohydrate
Butylene Glycol
Microcrystalline Cellulose
Sodium Citrate
Kaolin
Ethylhexylglycerin
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Citric Acid
Dextrin
Ceramide NP
Tocopherol
Rice Amino Acids
Water, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Butylene Glycol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Citrate, Kaolin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Citric Acid, Dextrin, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Rice Amino Acids
Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil
Betaine
Mannitol
Polyglycerin-3
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
Pentylene Glycol
Glyceryl Caprylate
Xanthan Gum
Carbomer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
Tromethamine
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Sodium Metaphosphate
Niacinamide
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Sorbitan Isostearate
Hyaluronic Acid
Phytosterols
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Caprylyl Glycol
Propylene Glycol
Glyceryl Oleate
Lecithin
Lauryl Glucoside
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Myristyl Glucoside
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Sodium Trimetaphosphate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Mannitol, Polyglycerin-3, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tromethamine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Metaphosphate, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Phytosterols, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Oleate, Lecithin, Lauryl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Myristyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Trimetaphosphate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
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.
Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
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.
Hydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
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.
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!