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Skin science article

Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm Versus La Prairie Supreme Balm Cleanser

Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm Versus La Prairie Supreme Balm Cleanser This oil-based makeup remover is made to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and daily buildup. What's inside Key Ingredients Benefits Concerns Ingredients Side-by-side Cetyl Ethylhexanoa

Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm Versus La Prairie Supreme Balm Cleanser

This oil-based makeup remover is made to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and daily buildup.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate

Synthetic Wax

PEG-10 Isostearate

Sorbitan Sesquioleate

Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil

Oryza Sativa Bran Oil

Water

Oryza Sativa Seed Water

Glycerin

Propanediol

1,2-Hexanediol

Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract

Butylene Glycol

Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract

Oryza Sativa Extract

Avena Sativa Meal Extract

Ethylhexylglycerin

Caprylyl Glycol

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Synthetic Wax, PEG-10 Isostearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Water, Oryza Sativa Seed Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Butylene Glycol, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Myristyl Lactate

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax

Tribehenin

Glycol Distearate

Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides

Parfum

Glycoproteins

Panax Ginseng Root Extract

Equisetum Arvense Extract

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Lotus Corniculatus Flower Extract

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Lactobacillus Ferment

Tocopheryl Acetate

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract

Arnica Montana Flower Extract

Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract

Tocopherol

Bisabolol

Glyceryl Dibehenate

Glyceryl Behenate

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Myristyl Lactate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Tribehenin, Glycol Distearate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Parfum, Glycoproteins, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lotus Corniculatus Flower Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Tocopheryl Acetate, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Glyceryl Behenate, Water, Ethylhexylglycerin

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

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.

PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate is a synthetic, oil-loving helper ingredient that does two jobs:

This ingredient is made by joining three building blocks: PEG, Isostearic Acid and glycerin. The PEG gives it the oil-and-water blending power.

This ingredient has been found safe for use in cosmetics and broader PEG family testing shows minimal irritation/sensitization. The molecule's large size also means it isn't expected to penetrate skin to any meaningful degree.

Fungal acne note: This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to isostearic acid (C18). Isostearic acid falls into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can feed on.

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!

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

01

Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Explained

  1. 01These ingredients are found in both products.
  2. 02Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
  3. 031,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
  4. 04It is a:
  5. 05Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
  6. 06Emollient, helping to soften skin
  7. 07Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
  8. 08Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
  9. 09Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
  10. 10Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
  11. 11Though 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.
  12. 12Butyloctyl Salicylate is a chemical UV filter structurally similar to octisalate. It is a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. This ingredient helps evenly spread out ingredients.
  13. 13According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for pairing with micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.
  14. 14Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.
  15. 15Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
  16. 16Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
  17. 17On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
  18. 18Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
  19. 19Polymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.
  20. 20When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.
Source · skinsort.com
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Product index

Related product references

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Comparison edit

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