Skin science article
Laneige Cream Skin Refiner Versus Laneige Hydro UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50+
Laneige Cream Skin Refiner Versus Laneige Hydro UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ This hydrating treatment is formulated around Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to hydrate skin. This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV
Laneige Cream Skin Refiner Versus Laneige Hydro UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50+
This hydrating treatment is formulated around Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to hydrate skin.
This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Butylene Glycol
Glycerin
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
1,2-Hexanediol
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Glyceryl Caprylate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Propanediol
Disodium EDTA
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Tocopherol
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%
Homosalate 9%
Octocrylene 9%
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Dimethicone
Silica
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Behenyl Alcohol
Trisiloxane
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Cyclopentasiloxane
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
C14-22 Alcohols
Ceramide AP
Glyceryl Stearate
PEG-100 Stearate
Phenyl Trimethicone
Cetyl Alcohol
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
Caprylyl Methicone
Polyacrylate-13
Parfum
Polyisobutene
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
Polysorbate 20
Sorbitan Isostearate
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Hydroxycitronellal
Limonene
Benzyl Salicylate
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Geraniol
Citronellol
Glucose
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Pentylene Glycol
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract
Magnesium Sulfate
Calcium Chloride
Xanthan Gum
Citric Acid
Sodium Benzoate
Potassium Sorbate
Manganese Sulfate
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Zinc Sulfate
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%, Homosalate 9%, Octocrylene 9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Water, Propanediol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Silica, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Trisiloxane, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, C14-22 Alcohols, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Caprylyl Methicone, Polyacrylate-13, Parfum, Polyisobutene, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Citronellol, Butylene Glycol, Glucose, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Chloride, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Manganese Sulfate, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Zinc Sulfate, Ascorbyl Glucoside
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.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
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.
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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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!