Skin science article
Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil - AHA Versus Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil
Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil - AHA Versus Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil This oil-based cleanser is formulated around Lactic Acid to exfoliate and smooth skin. This oil-based cleanser is made to cleanse without leaving your skin tight or dry. What's insi
Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil - AHA Versus Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil
This oil-based cleanser is formulated around Lactic Acid to exfoliate and smooth skin.
This oil-based cleanser is made to cleanse without leaving your skin tight or dry.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Paraffinum Liquidum
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
1,2-Hexanediol
Tocopheryl Acetate
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Water
Canarium Luzonicum Gum Nonvolatiles
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Lactic Acid
Glycolic Acid
Citric Acid
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Glycerin
Butylene Glycol
Glycine
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
Lysine
Leucine
Methionine
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Valine
Centella Asiatica Extract
Rhus Semialata Gall Extract
Oxygen
Ceramide NP
Sodium Hyaluronate
Cysteine
Aspartic Acid
Isoleucine
Alanine
Arginine
Tyrosine
Phenylalanine
Proline
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Histidine
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Water, Canarium Luzonicum Gum Nonvolatiles, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycine, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Lysine, Leucine, Methionine, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Valine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Rhus Semialata Gall Extract, Oxygen, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cysteine, Aspartic Acid, Isoleucine, Alanine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Histidine
Glycine Soja Oil
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Isododecane
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
Octyldodecanol
Polybutene
Tocopherol
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Panax Ginseng Seed Oil
Artemisia Vulgaris Oil
Ocimum Basilicum Oil
Corylus Avellana Seed Oil
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Panax Ginseng Berry Extract
Methylpropanediol
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Ethyl Hexanediol
Panax Ginseng Extract
Panax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract
Ethylhexylglycerin
Glycine Soja Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Isododecane, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Octyldodecanol, Polybutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Water, Tocopherol, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Panax Ginseng Seed Oil, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Corylus Avellana Seed Oil, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ethyl Hexanediol, Panax Ginseng Extract, Panax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
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.
This ingredient is also known as Tsubaki oil, or the fixed oil from the seeds of the Japanese camellia.
It's basically a fatty acid delivery system (~75-85% oleic acid) plus some minor extras like squalene, tocopherols, and phytosterols.
That profile makes it a classic emollient; it works by hanging out with the skin's surface lipids, softens, and slows down water loss.
The most cited study on it was done on skin cells in a dish where this oil got them to make more of the building blocks for collagen while also slowing down the enzyme that breaks collagen down. Researchers tested this on human skin too; it didn't cause irritation and helped skin hold onto moisture better.
Another study done on cells and mice found this oil quieted down some of the body's inflammation signals.
These studies are still small, early, and not done on humans, so it's best to think of this ingredient as a great supporting ingredient for the rest of your routine and not the main active.
Concentrations can range from 1-5% in serums to 100% as a single face oil (how it's most traditionally used).
Because this ingredient is a triglyceride of long-chain fatty acids, this ingredient may not be Malassezia safe.
Allergies to this protein are quite rare as the refined seed oil contains very little residual protein. Human irritation testing also came back clean. But it is a plant and as with any botanical ingredient, contact allergy is possible.
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%.
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!