Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution Versus Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution Versus Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel Detailed comparison of The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution versus Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel. This acne exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear brea

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The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution Versus Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel Detailed comparison of The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution versus Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Water Gel. This acne exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and refine the look of pores. This calming moisturizer is formulated around Panthenol and Allantoin to calm redness and hydrate skin. Salicylic Acid 2% Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine Chlorphenesin Citric Acid Hydroxyethylcellulose Phenoxyethanol Polysorbate 20 Saccharide Isomerate Sodium Citrate Sodium Hydroxide Water Salicylic Acid 2%, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Water Butylene Glycol Glycerin 1,2-Hexanediol Methyl Trimethicone Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Tromethamine Glyceryl Glucoside C12-14 Alketh-12 Maltodextrin Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Dimethicone Crosspolymer Ethylhexylglycerin Betaine Panthenol Allantoin Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Polyquaternium-51 Xanthan Gum Disodium EDTA Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract Glucose Beta-Glucan Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Sucrose Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate Caprylyl Glycol Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Tocopherol Cyanocobalamin Glycine Serine Glutamic Acid Aspartic Acid Leucine Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Alanine Lysine Arginine Tyrosine Phenylalanine Proline Threonine Valine Isoleucine Histidine Cysteine Methionine Phosphoric Acid Ascorbic Acid Sh-Oligopeptide-1 Sh-Oligopeptide-2 Sh-Polypeptide-1 Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methyl Trimethicone, Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Glucoside, C12-14 Alketh-12, Maltodextrin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine, Panthenol, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polyquaternium-51, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Glucose, Sodium Citrate, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Citric Acid, Sucrose, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Cyanocobalamin, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Phosphoric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1 These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes. Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath. However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products. Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH. In skincare formulas, citric acid can: While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants. Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations. Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger. However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure. Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative. Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions. The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants. 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!