Skin science article
Laneige Water Bank Hydro Essence Versus Beauty of Joseon Revive Repair Serum: Ginseng + Snail Mucin
Laneige Water Bank Hydro Essence Versus Beauty of Joseon Revive Repair Serum: Ginseng + Snail Mucin This hydrating essence is formulated around Saccharide Isomerate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier. This calming serum is formulated around Panax
Laneige Water Bank Hydro Essence Versus Beauty of Joseon Revive Repair Serum: Ginseng + Snail Mucin
This hydrating essence is formulated around Saccharide Isomerate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This calming serum is formulated around Panax Ginseng Root Water and Snail Secretion Filtrate to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Propanediol
Hexyldecyl Myristoyl Methylaminopropionate
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
Glycerin
Methyl Trimethicone
Sea Water
Saccharide Isomerate
Dimethicone
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Tromethamine
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
Glyceryl Caprylate
Carbomer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
1,2-Hexanediol
Parfum
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Magnesium Sulfate
Calcium Chloride
Phenoxyethanol
Sodium Citrate
Citric Acid
T-Butyl Alcohol
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Manganese Sulfate
Zinc Sulfate
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
Lecithin
Nasturtium Officinale Extract
Tocopherol
Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Water, Propanediol, Hexyldecyl Myristoyl Methylaminopropionate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Methyl Trimethicone, Sea Water, Saccharide Isomerate, Dimethicone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Tromethamine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, T-Butyl Alcohol, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Lecithin, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Tocopherol, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside
Panax Ginseng Root Water
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Dipropylene Glycol
Niacinamide
Trehalose
Xanthan Gum
Centella Asiatica Extract
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Malt Extract
Sodium Polyacrylate
Adenosine
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Phellinus Linteus Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Panax Ginseng Root Water, Water, Butylene Glycol, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Trehalose, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Malt Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Adenosine, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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.
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.
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%.
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.
Tromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
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!