Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum: Green Tea + Panthenol Versus I'm Sorry For My Skin Honey Beam Ampoule
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Panthenol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Betaine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Malt Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Honey Extract
Humectant
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentLilium Candidum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Panax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPoncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantRaffinose
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Lecithin
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Polyglycerin-3, Diglycerin, Methylpropanediol, Alcohol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Royal Jelly Extract, Betaine, Honey Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Propolis Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Octyldodeceth-16, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Polyquaternium-51, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Raffinose, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Lecithin, Cellulose Gum, Beta-Glucan, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Learn more about GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolPolyquaternium-51 is a polymer salt. It helps hydrate the skin by creating a film on top. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. 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.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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!
Learn more about Water
