Clé de Peau Beauté Concentrated Brightening Serum Versus COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This hydrating essence is formulated around Snail Secretion Filtrate and Allantoin to hydrate skin and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingSilica
Abrasive
PEG-5 Glyceryl Stearate
Emulsifying
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPotassium Methoxysalicylate
BleachingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientLauryl Betaine
CleansingTrehalose
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Glycine
Buffering
Rubus Suavissimus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Garcinia Mangostana Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUncaria Gambir Extract
AstringentHydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate
Surfactant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Batyl Alcohol
EmollientTheanine
EmollientPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Glucosamine Hcl
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Silica, PEG-5 Glyceryl Stearate, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Potassium Methoxysalicylate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Lauryl Betaine, Trehalose, Xanthan Gum, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Glycine, Rubus Suavissimus Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Bark Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Uncaria Gambir Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Mica, Isostearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Batyl Alcohol, Theanine, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Metabisulfite, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Glucosamine Hcl, Tocopherol, BHT, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 BetaineButylene 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.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerPhenoxyethanol 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.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
