Skin science article
COSRX Advanced Snail Radiance Dual Essence Versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster
COSRX Advanced Snail Radiance Dual Essence Versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster This brightening essence is formulated around Snail Secretion Filtrate and Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and strengthen the skin barrier. This brightening serum is f
COSRX Advanced Snail Radiance Dual Essence Versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster
This brightening essence is formulated around Snail Secretion Filtrate and Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Butylene Glycol
Niacinamide
1,2-Hexanediol
Betaine
Panthenol
Water
Glycerin
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Allantoin
Carbomer
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Sodium Polyacrylate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Arginine
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Xanthan Gum
Sodium Surfactin
Ethylhexylglycerin
Glutathione
Snail Secretion Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Panthenol, Water, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Allantoin, Carbomer, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Arginine, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Surfactin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glutathione
Ascorbic Acid
Dipropylene Glycol
Propanediol
Ethoxydiglycol
Sodium Hydroxide
PPG-26-Buteth-26
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Bisabolol
Ferulic Acid
Sodium Phytate
Decylene Glycol
Tocopherol
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Phenoxyethanol
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Hydroxide, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bisabolol, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Decylene Glycol, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Phenoxyethanol
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
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.
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!