Skin science article
Beauty of Joseon Low pH Rice Face and Body Cleansing Bar Versus Mixsoon Deep Foaming Rice Bar
Beauty of Joseon Low pH Rice Face and Body Cleansing Bar Versus Mixsoon Deep Foaming Rice Bar What's inside Key Ingredients No key ingredients Benefits Concerns Ingredients Side-by-side Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate Zea Mays Starch Water Glycerin Decyl Glucoside O
Beauty of Joseon Low pH Rice Face and Body Cleansing Bar Versus Mixsoon Deep Foaming Rice Bar
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Zea Mays Starch
Water
Glycerin
Decyl Glucoside
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Xanthan Gum
Citric Acid
Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Butylene Glycol
1,2-Hexanediol
Caprylyl Glycol
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Zea Mays Starch, Water, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol
Sodium Hydroxide
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Oryza Sativa Powder
Avena Sativa Kernel Meal
Centella Asiatica Extract
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Bifida Ferment Extract
Sodium Polyacrylate
Stearic Acid
Lauric Acid
Cocos Nucifera Oil, Water, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Powder, Avena Sativa Kernel Meal, Zea Mays Starch, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Bifida Ferment Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol
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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
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.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
This ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
This ingredient is also known as olive oil. It has been used in skincare for centuries and science largely backs up its reputation as a nourishing emollient.
The main components of olive oil are oleic acid (55-83%), linoleic acid (3.5-20%), and palmitic acid (7-20%). Oleic acid promotes skin regeneration and helps regulate inflammatory responses.
Squalene is also naturally present in olive oil and exhibits moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols in olive oil also show anti-aging promise; one clinical study found a measurable improvement in skin appearance after 30 days of topical serum use.
Just be aware that applying olive oil directly to skin can weaken the barrier and cause redness. One study with volunteers found even people without sensitive skin experienced a significant reduction in stratum corneum integrity and induced mild erythema.
It's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted formula (instead of putting it on skin directly from the bottle).
Because it has a 2-3 on the comedogenic scale, it is a moderate risk for acne-prone skin. However, the overall formulation of a product matters more than a few ingredients with comedogenic ratings.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because of the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fall within the C11-24 fatty acid range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize to grow.
Overall, olive oil is a well-studied and nourishing skincare 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!
Zea Mays Starch is starch made from corn. You might know this as cornstarch . It is used to thicken a product. It can replace talc as an absorbent.
The pH of cornstarch is 5.92.
Cornstarch is a common food ingredient used to thicken soups or to make corn syrup.