Skin science article
COSRX Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap Versus It's Skin Peptide Collagen Toner
COSRX Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap Versus It's Skin Peptide Collagen Toner This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice and Panthenol to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This anti-agin
COSRX Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap Versus It's Skin Peptide Collagen Toner
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice and Panthenol to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This anti-aging toner is formulated around Collagen Extract and Adenosine to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Butylene Glycol
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Betaine
Cetearyl Alcohol
1,2-Hexanediol
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Ethyl Hexanediol
Xanthan Gum
Allantoin
Panthenol
Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Lactate
4-Terpineol
Water
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethyl Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, 4-Terpineol, Water
Dipropylene Glycol
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
Hydroxyacetophenone
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Carbomer
Collagen Extract
Caprylyl Glycol
Tromethamine
Tocopheryl Acetate
Adenosine
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Disodium EDTA
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Iris Florentina Root Extract
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
Avena Sativa Peptide
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Carbomer, Collagen Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Tromethamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Adenosine, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Betaine, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Avena Sativa Peptide, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
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
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
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.
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!
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.