Skin science article
Beauty of Joseon Pure Cloud Bubble Toner Versus Beauty of Joseon Bubble Toner: Green Plum + AHA
Beauty of Joseon Pure Cloud Bubble Toner Versus Beauty of Joseon Bubble Toner: Green Plum + AHA This calming toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Portulaca Oleracea Extract to calm redness and hydrate skin. This smoothing toner is formulated around Glyco
Beauty of Joseon Pure Cloud Bubble Toner Versus Beauty of Joseon Bubble Toner: Green Plum + AHA
This calming toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Portulaca Oleracea Extract to calm redness and hydrate skin.
This smoothing toner is formulated around Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Dipropylene Glycol
Propanediol
1,2-Hexanediol
Niacinamide
Glycerin
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
C12-14 Pareth-12
Panthenol
Sodium Citrate
Adenosine
Citric Acid
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Nephrite Powder
Ethylhexylglycerin
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, C12-14 Pareth-12, Panthenol, Sodium Citrate, Adenosine, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Nephrite Powder, Ethylhexylglycerin
Prunus Mume Fruit Water
Glycolic Acid
Pentylene Glycol
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Honey Extract
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Tromethamine
Sodium PCA
Glucose
Butylene Glycol
Fructooligosaccharides
Fructose
Caprylyl Glycol
Sodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Ethyl Hexanediol
Water, Prunus Mume Fruit Water, Glycolic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Honey Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Glycerin, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Sodium PCA, Glucose, C12-14 Pareth-12, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Ethyl Hexanediol
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
C12-14 Pareth-12 is created from a mixture of synthetic C12-14 alcohols that have about 12 moles of ethylene oxide.
It is an emulsifying and cleansing ingredient. Emulsifier help prevent ingredients from separating, such as oils and waters.
Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
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.
This extract comes from Purslane, a succulent. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hydrating properties.
Purslane is very nutritious. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, NMFs, many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The vitamins found in purslane include: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E.
Fun fact: Purslane is a succulent with an extensive habitat. It is used in traditional Korean medicine to treat irritated skin.
Nowadays, purslane is becoming a superfood due to its highly nutritious content.
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.
This ingredient is also called sugarcane extract. It is a moisturizing humectant and has skin soothing properties.
Similar to hyaluronic acid, sugarcane can attract moisture to your skin.
Glycolic acid is a derivative of sugarcane. While glycolic acid is an AHA with exfoliating properties, sugarcane is not an AHA.
A study from 2021 found the compounds in sugarcane extract to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity. The study also suggests these compounds can inhibit skin ageing enzymes and promote collagen synthesis.
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!