The INKEY List Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser Versus The Pure Lotus Jeju Botanical pH Balancing Cleanser

The INKEY List Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser Versus The Pure Lotus Jeju Botanical pH Balancing Cleanser

This gel cleanser uses mild cleansing ingredients, but contains alcohol that may feel drying for some.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Coco-Glucoside

Glycerin

Butylene Glycol

Xanthan Gum

Phenoxyethanol

Benzyl Alcohol

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Peat

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate

PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate

Disodium EDTA

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil

Dehydroacetic Acid

Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract

Potassium Sorbate

Water, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Peat, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Disodium EDTA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate

Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate

Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate

Decyl Glucoside

Niacinamide

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Lauryl Glucoside

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Coco-Betaine

1,2-Hexanediol

Sea Water

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Sorbitol

Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract

Tromethamine

Oryza Sativa Extract

Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract

Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract

Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer

Citrus Limon Peel Oil

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Citric Acid

Sodium Benzoate

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Allantoin

Trehalose

Panthenol

Benzoic Acid

Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Folic Acid

Water, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Decyl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Lauryl Glucoside, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Coco-Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sea Water, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitol, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Oryza Sativa Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Trehalose, Panthenol, Benzoic Acid, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Folic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

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.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is the filtered, stabilized liquid pressed from the inner gel of the aloe vera leaf.

In cosmetics, it shows up as either soothing active or a water-replacement base. It is roughly 98-99% water and the last 1-2% is an interesting mix of polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

The polysaccharides do most of the work: they bind water at the skin surface for a light, non-greasy hydration boost. And one of the polysaccharides, glycomannan, is linked to fibroblast stimulation + collagen synthesis. This is also why aloe has such a long track record in wound and burn healing.

This ingredient is also calming with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity, making it a great pick for sensitive, irritated, or post-sun skin.

Realistic expectations matter though; the solid evidence is mostly limited to hydration, soothing, and wound support. Deeper claims about anti-aging or sun protection are not well backed, and science reviews note it does not prevent radiation-induced skin injury.

Because it plays well with almost everything, it's commonly used as a base alongside other actives like niacinamide or vitamin C.

Typical usage concentrations range from 0.5% (where hydration benefits already show up) all the way to 90%+ (where it replaces water as the main base).

The safety for this ingredient is well-establish as well. Overall, this is a great supporting ingredient for those who want a boost in hydration.

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%.

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!

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