Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Calming Essence Versus Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum

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Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Calming Essence versus Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum .

Last updated on October 27, 2023. Published on March 16, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain common allergens 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.

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Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Calming Essence

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum

Essence South Korean Brand

Serum South Korean Brand

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.

Serum

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

Price

Shop

Buy Houttuynia Cordata Calming Essence

Starts at $24.00

Shop

Buy First Care Activating Serum

Starts at $3.69

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Calming Essence 15 ingredients

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum 48 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

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Calming Essence 15 ingredients

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum 48 ingredients

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Redness Reducing (2)

Reduces Irritation

Brightening

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Redness Reducing (3)

Reduces Irritation (3)

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging

Scar Healing

Acne Fighting

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin

Irritating (2)

Rosacea (2)

Eczema (4)

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Ingredients Compared

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

Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Calming Essence 15 ingredients

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum 48 ingredients

Water • Houttuynia Cordata Extract • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Betaine • Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate • Carbomer • Ethylhexylglycerin • Tromethamine • Sodium Phytate • Dextrin • Theobroma Cacao Extract • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil • Ocimum Basilicum Oil • Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Rosa Damascena Flower Water • Butylene Glycol • Alcohol • Glycerin • Betaine • Peg/Ppg-17/6 Copolymer • Glyceryl Polymethacrylate • Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract • Phenoxyethanol • Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane • Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Carbomer • Tromethamine • Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract • Parfum • Honey • Juglans Regia Seed Extract • Theobroma Cacao Extract • Dextrin • Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract • Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract • Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract • Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract • Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract • Xanthan Gum • Ethylhexylglycerin • Portulaca Oleracea Extract • Limonene • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Disodium EDTA • Phenyl Trimethicone • Chondrus Crispus • Linalool • Biosaccharide Gum-1 • Ziziphus Jujuba Leaf Extract • Natto Gum • Citronellol • Citral • Propylene Glycol • Geraniol • Chlorphenesin • Hydrogenated Lecithin • BHT • Sodium Dehydroacetate • Potassium Sorbate • Citric Acid • Sorbic Acid • Tocopherol

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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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.

Glycerin

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

Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 3.

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Butylene Glycol

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.

Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 4.

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

Betaine

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.

Betaine is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies show betaine may help with uneven skin tones.

Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The form found within cosmetic products can be either plant-dervied or synthetic.

Learn more about Betaine

Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 5.

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

Carbomer

What it does: Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Community Rating: Disliked

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.

Carbomer is commonly found in many types of cosmetics products. It is found to be safe in concentrations up to 15%. However, a high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Most products contain 1% of less of carbomer.

Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 7.

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.

Ethylhexylglycerin

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 8.

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.

Tromethamine

What it does: Buffering, Masking

Community Rating: Liked

Tromethamine is an aliphatic compound. An aliphatic compound is an organic compound with open-chained carbon atoms. It is synthetically created. Tromethamine is used to balance pH and improve texture.

As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.

Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.

1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-

Learn more about Tromethamine

Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 9.

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

Dextrin

What it does: Absorbent

Community Rating: Liked

Dextrin is used to thicken a product and helps bind ingredients together. It is created from starch and glycogen.

As an emulsifier, dextrin prevents ingredients from separating. This helps elongate a product's shelf life.

Studies show coating UV filters with dextrin prevents these ingredients from being absorbed. This helps UV ingredients last longer on the skin.

Learn more about Dextrin