Versus

COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser Versus The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum - EU

Face Cleanser
Serum
Korean Brand South Korea
British Brand United Kingdom

Updated on June 19, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 3 ingredients in common

Suited For

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

Free From

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

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

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Benefits

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products

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, 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
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
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.

When to use

2,089 Routines
41% use in am
59% use in pm
92% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
1,493 Routines
49% use in am
51% use in pm
97% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 23 ingredients

2.8 /5
from 33 ratings
Drying (15) Works Well (7) Strong Scent (7)
skinogre's avatar

skinogre

1 year ago
Review

I used to think it was good because of how it really goes DEEP into cleaning your skin, it feels like it’s been scraped out. It’s good if you haven’t washed your face in a week, other than that it’s really bad. And that’s coming from someone who has oily skin and uses Paula’s choice BHA every other day. There are so many better cleansing products than this, I highly advise getting a medium level Show more

#drying
#strong scent
brinny's avatar

Bree

7 months ago
Review

Cons: Hadn't realized how much this has been stripping my face of... everything until recent. Not bad at all. In fact, it's one of the best cleansers I've used in a while. But it's probably not something I need to use daily.

Pros: This does a really great job of cleaning the face. Don't think it exfoliates in any way, but my face, at least, would feel taut.

Will I buy this again? Maybe. It Show more

#great value
#drying
#strong scent
#works well

The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum 14 ingredients

3.4 /5
from 19 ratings
No Scent (8) Great Value (5) Absorbs Well (4)
ThomasvV's avatar

Thomas VV

11 months ago
Review

Give simple hydration, it's not as special as other Korean hyaluronic acid serums such as Torriden dive in or Isntree Hyaluronic acid toner, but it's still good and safe to use!

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#sticky
RAINSTORM's avatar

RAINSTORM

4 months ago
Review

(for context i have very dry sensitive-ish acne prone skin) this is a very good hydrating hyaluronic serum i really like it, didnt irritate my skin, hydrated my skin very very well, wish it was a bigger size though. would highly recommend.

#great value
#hydrating
#absorbs well
#sticky