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Skin science article

Eqqualberry Collagen Pore-Tight Up Hydrogel Mask Versus Eqqualberry Swimming Pool Toner

Eqqualberry Collagen Pore-Tight Up Hydrogel Mask Versus Eqqualberry Swimming Pool Toner This pore-care sheet mask is formulated around Niacinamide and Sodium DNA to refine the look of pores and soften the look of wrinkles. This hydrating toner is formulated ar

Eqqualberry Collagen Pore-Tight Up Hydrogel Mask Versus Eqqualberry Swimming Pool Toner

This pore-care sheet mask is formulated around Niacinamide and Sodium DNA to refine the look of pores and soften the look of wrinkles.

This hydrating toner is formulated around Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract and Protease to hydrate skin and refine skin texture.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Butylene Glycol

Cocos Nucifera Oil

Glycereth-26

Niacinamide

Chondrus Crispus Powder

1,2-Hexanediol

Ceratonia Siliqua Gum

Sodium DNA

Collagen

Glyceryl Glucoside

Panthenol

Sodium PCA

Hydroxyacetophenone

Algin

Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate

Glucomannan

Sucrose

Allantoin

Gellan Gum

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Polysorbate 80

Propanediol

Xanthan Gum

Potassium Chloride

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Eclipta Prostrata Extract

Adenosine

Sodium Hyaluronate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Glucose

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Sodium Polyacrylate

Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

Tocopherol

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Caprylyl Glycol

Hexapeptide-2

Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Capryloyl Dipeptide-17

Hyaluronic Acid

Potassium Hyaluronate

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol

Biotin

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Hexapeptide-9

Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Copper Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5

Oligopeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Oligopeptide-2

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Chondrus Crispus Powder, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Sodium DNA, Collagen, Glyceryl Glucoside, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Algin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glucomannan, Sucrose, Allantoin, Gellan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polysorbate 80, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Chloride, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexapeptide-2, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Capryloyl Dipeptide-17, Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Biotin, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Oligopeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2

Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract

Protease

Betaine

Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract

Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract

Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract

Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract

Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract

Beta-Glucan

Fructan

Styrene/Vp Copolymer

Pentylene Glycol

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Protease, Betaine, Panthenol, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Fructan, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol

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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

Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.

Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.

It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.

Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.

This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.

Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.

Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.

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.

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.

Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.

Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).

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.

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

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.

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!

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.

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

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

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Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

TonyMoly Timeless Ferment Snail Hydrogel MaskIngredients explained

  1. 01Good old water, aka H2O. The most common skincare ingredient of all. You can usually find it right in the very first spot of the ingredient list, meaning it’s the biggest thing out of all the stuff that makes up the product.
  2. 02It’s mainly a solvent for ingredients that do not like to dissolve in oils but rather in water.
  3. 03Expand to read more
  4. 04Once inside the skin, it hydrates, but not from the outside - putting pure water on the skin (hello long baths!) is drying.
  5. 05One more thing: the water used in cosmetics is purified and deionized (it means that almost all of the mineral ions inside it is removed). Like this, the products can stay more stable over time.
  6. 06Butylene glycol, or let’s just call it BG, is a multi-tasking colorless, syrupy liquid. It’s a great pick for creating a nice feeling product.
  7. 07BG’s main job is usually to be a solvent for the other ingredients. Other tasks include helping the product to absorb faster and deeper into the skin (penetration enhancer), making the product spread nicely over the skin (slip agent), and attracting…
  8. 08It’s an ingredient whose safety hasn’t been questioned so far by anyone (at least not that we know about). BG is approved by Ecocert and is also used enthusiastically in natural products. BTW, it’s also a food additive.
  9. 09A natural moisturizer that’s also in our skin
  10. 10A super common, safe, effective and cheap molecule used for more than 50 years
  11. 11Not only a simple moisturizer but knows much more: keeps the skin lipids between our skin cells in a healthy (liquid crystal) state, protects against irritation, helps to restore barrier
  12. 12Effective from as low as 3% with even more benefits for dry skin at higher concentrations up to 20-40%
  13. 13High-glycerin moisturizers are awesome for treating severely dry skin
  14. 14If you are into the K-Beauty trend, you must have bumped into snail slime like a thousand times. Korean brands love the ingredient and tout it for its miraculous repair and hydration properties. It's claimed to be able to repair everything from dry …
  15. 15So snail slime is the yucky stuff that snails (in cosmetics the secretion of Cornu Aspersum, the garden snail is used) produce when they are in stress (it's not the same as the one they secret to be able to move nicely and smoothly). As the cosmetic…
  16. 16As for scientific proof that snail slime does something for the skin, we did find a couple of studies to go by. A Spanish radiation oncologist, Rafael Abad Iglesias MD discovered for the first time that snail mucin can be used to treat radiation der…
  17. 17A 2007 study examined the molecular basis for the great regeneration properties of the ingredient. It found that snail slime (SS) indeed does a bunch of positive things that could be the reason for its great repair abilities. First, it has serious a…
  18. 18Regarding anti-aging, a 2013 study in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology examined the effect of SS on photoaged skin. The 14-week, double-blind, 25 participant study found that "there was a significant degree of improvement in fines lines", though …
  19. 19All in all, we think that snail slime definitely deserves the skin goodie status it already enjoys in the K-beauty space. If you have no problem with somewhat strange, yucky things or animal derived ingredients in your products, it's worth a try.
  20. 20An odorless and colorless emollient ester (cetyl alcohol + ethylhexanoic acid) that gives a velvety and silky feel to the skin. It has great spreadability and a non-oily feel. It's a popular ingredient in makeup removers.
Source · incidecoder.com
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Product index

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Comparison edit

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