Educational guide
Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% This eye moisturizer is formulated around Panax Ginseng Root Extract to hydrate skin. This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balanc
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Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
This eye moisturizer is formulated around Panax Ginseng Root Extract to hydrate skin.
This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Butylene Glycol
Squalane
Glycerin
Propanediol
Behenyl Alcohol
Diisostearyl Malate
Dimethicone
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate
Phytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Stearic Acid
Glyceryl Stearate
PEG-100 Stearate
1,2-Hexanediol
Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone
Polyacrylate-13
Phenoxyethanol
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Polyisobutene
Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Caffeine
Honey
Alcohol
Parfum
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Ethylhexylglycerin
Polysorbate 20
Sorbitan Isostearate
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Polyacrylate
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Dextrin
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Limonene
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Linalool
Panax Ginseng Flower Extract
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Hexyl Cinnamal
Phytosphingosine
Sodium Polyaspartate
Tocopherol
Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
Water, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Diisostearyl Malate, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Phytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone, Polyacrylate-13, Phenoxyethanol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Polyisobutene, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Caffeine, Honey, Alcohol, Parfum, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Polyacrylate, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Dextrin, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Linalool, Panax Ginseng Flower Extract, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Hexyl Cinnamal, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Polyaspartate, Tocopherol, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
Niacinamide 10%
Pentylene Glycol
Zinc PCA 1%
Dimethyl Isosorbide
Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Xanthan Gum
Isoceteth-20
Ethoxydiglycol
Chlorphenesin
Water, Niacinamide 10%, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA 1%, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
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.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
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!