Versus

Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder Versus Ilso Super Melting Sebum Softener - Original (Water)

Face Cleanser
Facial Treatment
Korean Brand South Korea
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on September 04, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and oily skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Super Melting Sebum Softener

Water

Skin Conditioning

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Ganoderma Lucidum Extract

Skin Protecting

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Astringent
Good for Oily Skin Icon

Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Arctium Lappa Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Chrysanthemum Sinense Flower Extract

Cleansing

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Viscum Album Leaf Extract

Soothing

Hamamelis Virginiana Extract

Antiseborrhoeic
Can worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Emulsifying

Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Lavandula Angustifolia Extract

Skin Conditioning
May cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Phytosterols

Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Illicium Verum Fruit Extract

Perfuming
Fragrance Icon

Sodium Gluconate

Skin Conditioning

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Panthenol

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Astringent

Carica Papaya Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Squalane

Emollient
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Glucose

Humectant

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Masking
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Centella Asiatica Extract

Cleansing
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Prunus Mume Fruit Extract

Humectant

Malus Domestica Fruit Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Papain

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0

Houttuynia Cordata Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Portulaca Oleracea Extract

Skin Conditioning

Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract

Masking
May worsen Eczema Icon

Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract

Skin Conditioning

Madecassoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning

Papain is an enzyme found naturally in the papaya plant's leaves, fruit, and roots. It has antimicrobial, soothing, and wound healing properties.

Glycine and Vitamin A are naturally found in papain.

While papain is often touted as skin-lightening, further studies are needed to prove this. However, papain has been shown to help soothe acne-inflammation.

Papain belongs to a class of enzymes called proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes break down peptides and amino acids.

Some studies found papain to be a potential skin sensitizer and allergen. Those with latex allergies might also be allergic to papaya.

Learn more about Papain
Buffering, Masking

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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 
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Humectant

Glucose is a simple sugar and is the most important source of energy in all organisms.

In skincare, glucose is used to hydrate the skin. It also acts as a prebiotic for our natural biome.

Glucose is hydrating due to its humectant property. As a humectant, glucose draws moisture from the air and from deeper levels in the skin.

Our skin contains many sugars that act as prebiotics and help strengthen our natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome helps protect our skin from harmful bacteria and other contaminants.

Studies show glucose may help with fading discoloration and pigmentation. This is because our skin metabolizes glucose into lactic acid. Lactic acid is an AHA that helps exfoliate the top layer of skin.

Learn more about Glucose
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

When to use

223 Routines
35% use in am
65% use in pm
80% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
57 Routines
26% use in am
74% use in pm
47% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder 30 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Doesn't Work (1) Great Value (1)
_.kiruska._'s avatar

Kira

9 months ago
Review

U don’t know how much u need it untill u get it. Hydrates tightens brightens and helps with hyperpigmentation aswell

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
osjatlen's avatar

osjatlen

4 days ago
Review

It’s fun to play with, but I don’t see any difference whatsoever. And in my opinion it smells awful

#sticky
#strong scent
#doesn't work

Ilso Super Melting Sebum Softener 43 ingredients

2.7 /5
from 4 ratings
Strong Scent (3) Doesn't Work (1) Expensive (1)
honimoli's avatar

honimoli

2 months ago
Review

I don't think it's the best for dryer skin. I have seen the results on people with oilier skin with lots of sebaceous filaments, and it seems to work for those, but I don't think it reaches deep enough for people with dryer skin. Still, I give it three stars because when I use it, even if it looks the same, my nose does feel noticeable softer than usual and the results last days, even though my Show more

#light
#strong scent
#doesn't work
joyce_'s avatar

joyce

2 months ago
Review

Removes so much sebum in 5 mins

#great value
#strong scent
#works well