Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Idealove The Balancing Act, Aloe Propolis BHA Toner versus COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence .
Last updated on March 07, 2024. Published on May 20, 2022
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 dry skin and sensitive 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
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
Ingredient Info
Idealove The Balancing Act, Aloe Propolis BHA Toner 23 ingredients
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence 12 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Idealove The Balancing Act, Aloe Propolis BHA Toner 23 ingredients
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence 12 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Idealove The Balancing Act, Aloe Propolis BHA Toner 23 ingredients
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence 12 ingredients
Water • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water • Dipropylene Glycol • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Pentylene Glycol • Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate • Betaine Salicylate • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Propolis Extract • Snail Secretion Filtrate • Bee Venom • Bifida Ferment Lysate • Beta-Glucan • Sodium Hyaluronate • Polyglutamic Acid • Arginine • 1,2-Hexanediol • Caprylyl Glycol • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
Idealove The Balancing Act, Aloe Propolis BHA Toner contains this as ingredient number 5.
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence contains this as ingredient number 3.
Snail Secretion Filtrate is the excretion from snails. It is an effective moisturizer and promotes collagen production.
Snail Secretion helps repair the skin barrier, helping the skin stay hydrated. It also contains ingredients that tell the skin to create more collagen such as glycolic acid.
Snail Secretion Filtrate is also great for soothing skin because it also contains allantoin.
On top of this, Snail Secretion Filtrate contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. These include copper peptides, Vitamin A, and vitamin E. Vitamins A and E are antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, molecules that damage skin cells. Fighting off free-radicals can slow the process of wrinkle formation and hyperpigmentation.
Being cruelty-free means a brand does not experiment on animals. If you're worried about the well-being of the snails, we recommend looking more into the company of the product. Many brands have developed humane methods to collect snail mucin.
There is much debate on this subject. On one hand, this ingredient comes from an animal. On the other hand, many will argue the ingredient is naturally secreted (like a natural by-product) and therefore vegan. If you have reservations, you can look into Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate or Centella Asiatica Extract as alternatives.
Learn more about Snail Secretion FiltrateIdealove The Balancing Act, Aloe Propolis BHA Toner contains this as ingredient number 13.
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 HyaluronateIdealove The Balancing Act, Aloe Propolis BHA Toner contains this as ingredient number 17.
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence contains this as ingredient number 7.
Arginine is an amino acid that is important for human development. Your body uses is it to produce hair keratin and skin collagen.
As a cosmetic ingredient, Arginine has antioxidant properties and can also help repair damaged skin. This ingredient is derived either synthetically or from animals.
Arginine isn't fungal acne safe when used in the presence of other lipids (fats, fatty acids, oils, esters, etc). Oils and fats occur naturally within the skin, so take caution when using Arginine if you're prone to fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineIdealove The Balancing Act, Aloe Propolis BHA Toner contains this as ingredient number 19.
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence contains this as ingredient number 12.
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.
Idealove The Balancing Act, Aloe Propolis BHA Toner contains this as ingredient number 20.
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence contains this as ingredient number 4.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Idealove The Balancing Act, Aloe Propolis BHA Toner 23 ingredients
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence 12 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Idealove The Balancing Act, Aloe Propolis BHA Toner 23 ingredients
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence 12 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Idealove The Balancing Act, Aloe Propolis BHA Toner 23 ingredients
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence 12 ingredients
elinstrandh
I enjoy the super hydrated glowy effect that this gives on the skin, also that it is unscented.
However, over time my skin does not appreciate...
I enjoy the super hydrated glowy effect that this gives on the skin, also that it is unscented.
However, over time my skin does not appreciate this product. After a few days my skin feels like it’s thinning and getting more and more responsive. Also contains phenyoxyethanol, something to watch out for if you use a lot of products containing it in your routine.
cgi
this snail mucin essence really is one of the best ones out there— it's a holy grail. this product was my very first impression of cosrx, and the...
this snail mucin essence really is one of the best ones out there— it's a holy grail. this product was my very first impression of cosrx, and the short ingredient list is very surprising with how effective it is. i've been using it for about a year now, and it's become a staple in my routine. after my first couple weeks of use, a lot of my dark spots disappeared and calmed down my hormonal acne & redness like magic. makes my skin looks like glass, so smooth and supple. it has a sticky texture (obviously), but it immediately absorbs like water and leaves my skin feeling so soft. i only need one pump for my whole face and pat it in. i don't use too much not only to save product but also because it'll feel a bit heavy on my oily skin. i love how hydrating it is for my dehydrated oily skin and has hyaluronic acid as an ingredient, locking in moisture. doesn't leave a greasy feeling or oily film, just pure hydration. i use it daily, morning and night. my only con is how expensive it is, which is why i'm glad i only need to use a little amount each time. absolutely in love, never taking this out of my routine.
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Idealove The Balancing Act, Aloe Propolis BHA Toner.
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