Skin science article
Beauty of Joseon Pine Grove : Body Cream Versus Esfolio Avocado Body Lotion
Beauty of Joseon Pine Grove : Body Cream Versus Esfolio Avocado Body Lotion What's inside Key Ingredients No key ingredients Benefits Concerns Ingredients Side-by-side Water Glycerin Dicaprylyl Carbonate Cetearyl Alcohol Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil Capryli
Beauty of Joseon Pine Grove : Body Cream Versus Esfolio Avocado Body Lotion
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Octyldodecanol
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Cetearyl Olivate
Pentylene Glycol
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Sorbitan Olivate
1,2-Hexanediol
Methyl Trimethicone
Vinyldimethicone
C12-16 Alcohols
Parfum
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
Propanediol
Palmitic Acid
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Caprylyl Glycol
Microcrystalline Cellulose
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Xanthan Gum
Sodium Phytate
Cellulose Gum
Juglans Nigra Leaf Extract
Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Sophora Japonica Leaf Extract
Stearyl Alcohol
Trichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract
Tocopherol
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract
Methylpropanediol
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Dipropylene Glycol
Bambusa Vulgaris Water
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract
Pinus Sylvestris Bud Extract
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract
Prunus Persica Flower Extract
Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Water, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Olivate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methyl Trimethicone, Vinyldimethicone, C12-16 Alcohols, Parfum, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Cellulose Gum, Juglans Nigra Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Sophora Japonica Leaf Extract, Stearyl Alcohol, Trichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Methylpropanediol, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Bud Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Cetyl Alcohol
Cyclopentasiloxane
Panthenol
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Glyceryl Stearate
Cyclohexasiloxane
PEG-100 Stearate
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
Dimethicone
Stearic Acid
Polysorbate 60
Myristyl Alcohol
Carbomer
Arginine
Lauryl Alcohol
Myristic Acid
Arachidic Acid
Lauric Acid
Oleic Acid
Disodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
Linalool
Limonene
Hexyl Cinnamal
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Geraniol
Citronellol
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Dimethicone, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Myristyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Arginine, Lauryl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Lauric Acid, Oleic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Geraniol, Citronellol
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.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
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.
Palmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Stearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
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!
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.