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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of COSRX Centella Blemish Cream versus COSRX AC Collection Blemish Spot Clearing Serum .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on August 26, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free . They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin and scar healing

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and oils

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

General Moisturizer South Korean Brand South Korea
Serum South Korean Brand South Korea

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Centella Blemish Cream

Starts at $12.00
Shop

Buy AC Collection Blemish Spot Clearing Serum

Starts at $16.19

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Mineral UV Filter

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (3)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger

Notable Ingredients

Niacinamide
Ceramides
Hyaluronic Acid
Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Good For Oily Skin (3)
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Reduces Large Pores
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (2)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

1
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

COSRX Centella Blemish Cream contains this as ingredient number 2.

COSRX AC Collection Blemish Spot Clearing Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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

COSRX Centella Blemish Cream contains this as ingredient number 3.

COSRX AC Collection Blemish Spot Clearing Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

3
What it does: Emollient, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil is the oil derived from the seeds of a Sunflower. Sunflower seed oil is non-fragrant. It is an emollient, meaning it helps to soften the skin.

Sunflower seed oil contains many fatty acids. The fatty acids found in sunflower seeds include (from highest amount to least): linoleic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid.

These fatty acids help the skin create ceramides. Ceramides play a role in repairing the skin barrier.

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil helps moisturize the skin. This in turn helps the skin look more rejuvenated and smoother.

Sunflowers are rich in vitamin E.

Historians believe Indigenous cultures of North America domesticated sunflowers before corn. Thus they relied on sunflower oil for a variety of uses. One such use is moisturizing skin and hair.

Sunflower seed oil may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

COSRX Centella Blemish Cream contains this as ingredient number 4.

COSRX AC Collection Blemish Spot Clearing Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.

4
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

1,2-Hexanediol is a multi-tasker ingredient. It acts as a preservative to increase shelf-life and can aid other preservatives in preventing microbe growth. 1,2-Hexanediol also helps the skin retain moisture as a humectant.

In products that are water-based, this ingredient can help stabilize perfumes and fragrances. It can also help make the texture of products softer and more smooth.

COSRX Centella Blemish Cream contains this as ingredient number 8.

COSRX AC Collection Blemish Spot Clearing Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

5
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Disliked

This is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.

It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.

COSRX Centella Blemish Cream contains this as ingredient number 17.

COSRX AC Collection Blemish Spot Clearing Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

6
What it does: Antioxidant, Perfuming
Community Rating: Mixed

This tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the Tea Tree plant. Tea tree oil has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.

According to the book Journal of Profiles of Drug Substances, tea tree helps in reducing acne-causing bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes. This is due to the Terpinen components of tea tree oil.

Tea tree may cause sensitivity and irritation for some people. This oil naturally contains fragrance such as linalool and limonene.

However, research shows irritation usually occurs when using pure tea tree oil and not in cosmetic products.

Tea tree oil was found to help relieve the symptoms of psoriasis in one study.

Tea tree oil is toxic when ingested. Another study showed it to caused damage to the nervous system of dogs and cats when applied to their skin or given orally.

Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil

COSRX Centella Blemish Cream contains this as ingredient number 19.

COSRX AC Collection Blemish Spot Clearing Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

35% are loved or liked
15% have mixed ratings
40% are disliked or very disliked
10% have no rating yet
46% are loved or liked
17% have mixed ratings
29% are disliked or very disliked
8% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

COSRX Centella Blemish Cream 20 ingredients

3.6 /5
from 7 ratings
Great Value (1) No Scent (1) Works Well (1)
clementhyme's avatar

clementhyme

10 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

loooove this, 100% night time product
definitely leaves a white cast you look like a little ghost, but soo soothing and refreshing for irritated,...

loooove this, 100% night time product
definitely leaves a white cast you look like a little ghost, but soo soothing and refreshing for irritated, sensitive skin, has been helping my acne scars aswell as redness from acne/ just acne in general :)

AnaRitaSantos's avatar

AnaRitaSantos

11 months ago · Oily Skin
Review

Very mixed feelings about this one
Pros: very effective balm against irritation and redness, great brightening power. Cons: very strong white cast...

Very mixed feelings about this one
Pros: very effective balm against irritation and redness, great brightening power. Cons: very strong white cast and it pills off awfully. Best used at night as spot treatment in small areas, keep the routine very basic to minimize pilling.

COSRX AC Collection Blemish Spot Clearing Serum 24 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 2 ratings
etuko's avatar

etuko

8 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

Can be skin soothing and reduce redness even hyperpigmentation

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