Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser Versus innisfree Green Tea Amino Acid Face Cleanser
This mild gel cleanser is made to cleanse while respecting your skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
SurfactantSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingInulin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningColloidal Oatmeal
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEpidermidibacterium Keratini Ferment Filtrate
EmollientQuillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingSodium Phytate
ChelatingLecithin
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingButyl Avocadate
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Mannose
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAloe Ferox Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTriacetin
AntimicrobialGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Inulin, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Colloidal Oatmeal, Caprylyl Glycol, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Micrococcus Lysate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Epidermidibacterium Keratini Ferment Filtrate, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Sodium Phytate, Lecithin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Citric Acid, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Citrate, Butyl Avocadate, Arginine, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Mannose, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Triacetin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMyristic Acid
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycol Distearate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingPolyquaternium-22
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPropanediol
SolventParfum
MaskingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
ChelatingButylene Glycol
HumectantArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAcrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantTetrasodium EDTA
ChelatingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAcorus Calamus Root Extract
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Polyquaternium-22, Lauryl Glucoside, Propanediol, Parfum, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, Acorus Calamus Root Extract
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.
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 preservatives
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineButylene 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 GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidLauryl Hydroxysultaine is a mild surfactant or cleansing ingredient that helps lift away dirt/oil, boost foam, and thicken the formula. It plays nicely with other surfactants and stays stable across a wide pH range.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum