Dr. Althea Rapid Firm Sculpting Cream Versus Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide

Dr. Althea Rapid Firm Sculpting Cream Versus Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide

This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone and Copper Tripeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles.

This acne serum is formulated around Propolis Extract and Niacinamide to clear breakouts and brighten dull-looking skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Glycerin

Butylene Glycol

Cetearyl Alcohol

Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate

Cyclopentasiloxane

Polysorbate 60

Glyceryl Stearate

Palmitic Acid

1,2-Hexanediol

Cyclohexasiloxane

Dimethicone

Benzyl Glycol

Stearic Acid

Sorbitan Sesquioleate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Carbomer

Arginine

Sodium Polyacrylate

Isopentyldiol

Tocopheryl Acetate

Allantoin

Propanediol

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate

Disodium EDTA

Hydrolyzed Corn Starch

Sucrose Palmitate

Dipropylene Glycol

Leontopodium Alpinum Extract

Lauric Acid

Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone

Sucrose

Myristic Acid

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Silk Extract

Salmon Egg Extract

Beta-Glucan

Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract

Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans

Sodium Hyaluronate

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Copper Tripeptide-1

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate

Hyaluronic Acid

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysorbate 60, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Benzyl Glycol, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Arginine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Isopentyldiol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Propanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Sucrose Palmitate, Dipropylene Glycol, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Lauric Acid, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Sucrose, Myristic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Silk Extract, Salmon Egg Extract, Beta-Glucan, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Propolis Extract

Niacinamide

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract

Centella Asiatica Extract

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Lotus Corniculatus Seed Extract

Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil

Betaine Salicylate

Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Tromethamine

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Caprylyl Glycol

Dextrin

Pentylene Glycol

Octanediol

Tocopherol

Xanthan Gum

Propolis Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Water, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Lotus Corniculatus Seed Extract, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Betaine Salicylate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Octanediol, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer

Reviews

Be the first to review

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.

Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.

Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.

It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.

Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.

A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.

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.

Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.

In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.

Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:

Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.

Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.

You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.

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