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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of COSRX Propolis Synergy Toner versus Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Essence .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on August 03, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

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

Free From

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

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

Toner South Korean Brand South Korea
Essence South Korean Brand South Korea

Toner

Toners are used as a “last-step” cleanser, a pH balancer, add moisture to the skin, or may help in reducing impurities on the skin. They have a liquid consistency and are usually used after cleansers but before treatments.

Essence

Essences are used to prep skin for further treatment and may provide extra skin benefits. They are usually used before serum and moisturizers. Essences are thought to have originated in either Japan or Korea and is an essential step in K-Beauty.

Price

Shop

Buy Propolis Synergy Toner

Starts at $12.79
Shop

Buy Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Essence

Starts at $22.99

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
ph level
4.5

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing
Acne Fighting
Brightening
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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: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Propolis Extract is also known as bee glue. It is a resinous mixture created from beeswax, bee saliva, and parts of trees.

Propolis Extract has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and antioxidant properties. Studies show propolis helps fight against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This may help with reducing acne and accelerate wound healing.

The flavonoids found in propolis extract are potent antioxidants. Antioxidants may help with reducing the signs of aging.

A study from 2020 found propolis to help reverse skin damage from UV.

Bees use propolis as a sealant to close any gaps in their hives.

speeding up new healthy cell growth.

Learn more about Propolis Extract

COSRX Propolis Synergy Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.

Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Essence contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

We don't have a description for Honey Extract.

COSRX Propolis Synergy Toner contains this as ingredient number 2.

Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Essence contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
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 Propolis Synergy Toner contains this as ingredient number 3.

Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Essence contains this as ingredient number 4.

4
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 Propolis Synergy Toner contains this as ingredient number 5.

Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Essence contains this as ingredient number 7.

5
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

COSRX Propolis Synergy Toner contains this as ingredient number 12.

Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Essence contains this as ingredient number 11.

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

43% are loved or liked
29% have mixed ratings
21% are disliked or very disliked
7% have no rating yet
60% are loved or liked
20% have mixed ratings
20% are disliked or very disliked
0% 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 Propolis Synergy Toner 14 ingredients

3.8 /5
from 20 ratings
Hydrating (5) Broke Me Out (4) Works Well (3) Light (3) No Scent (3) Sticky (2)
helldoll's avatar

helldoll

5 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

don't get me wrong it feels really nice on the skin but I bought this forgetting that I literally have an allergy to honey and bee products lmao....

don't get me wrong it feels really nice on the skin but I bought this forgetting that I literally have an allergy to honey and bee products lmao. broke out in hives around my chin 10 mins after using it so... probably my fault but oh well

Jay_289's avatar

Jay_289

4 months ago · Oily Skin
Review

It's hydrating and awesome for oily skin. Been using it for a year now and it's gen been my HG ever since day 1. Helped me w my acne smmm. Def...

It's hydrating and awesome for oily skin. Been using it for a year now and it's gen been my HG ever since day 1. Helped me w my acne smmm. Def worth to try it out ^_^

Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Essence 15 ingredients

3.3 /5
from 4 ratings
Absorbs Well (2) Broke Me Out (1) Expensive (1) Hydrating (1) No Scent (1) Works Well (1)
Butter's avatar

Butter

5 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

Another holygrail product! My skin type has changed recently and I'm a lot more acne-prone than I used to be but I still have issues with...

Another holygrail product! My skin type has changed recently and I'm a lot more acne-prone than I used to be but I still have issues with dryness/dry patches this product helps to treat both. Quite often as I've found things that treat acne, dry out my skin and things that treat dryness break me out. This product is one of few that does neither. With 63% propolis extract, 10% honey extract, and 10% royal jelly extract to help hydrate the skin. Both propolis and honey extract have anti-bacterial properties with help to treat acne. The only downside is it's a little expensive so I made sure to get the Black Fridays deals! 😅

mimi83077's avatar

mimi83077

3 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

I was very excited to try this product. While it was very hydrating it left a waxy film and ended up causing fungal acne on my cheeks.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 5 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Essence.

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