Versus

Ilso Super Melting Sebum Softener - Original (Water) Versus COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

Facial Treatment
Toner
Korean Brand South Korea
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on September 04, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, 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

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Super Melting Sebum Softener

Water

Skin Conditioning

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Ganoderma Lucidum Extract

Skin Protecting

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Astringent
Good for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Arctium Lappa Root Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation Icon

Chrysanthemum Sinense Flower Extract

Cleansing

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Viscum Album Leaf Extract

Soothing

Hamamelis Virginiana Extract

Antiseborrhoeic
Can worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Emulsifying
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Lavandula Angustifolia Extract

Skin Conditioning
May cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Phytosterols

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Illicium Verum Fruit Extract

Perfuming
Fragrance Icon

Sodium Gluconate

Skin Conditioning

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Panthenol

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Astringent

Carica Papaya Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Squalane

Emollient
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Glucose

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Masking
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Centella Asiatica Extract

Cleansing
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Prunus Mume Fruit Extract

Humectant
Good for Dark Spots Icon

Malus Domestica Fruit Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Papain

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0

Houttuynia Cordata Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Portulaca Oleracea Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract

Masking
May worsen Eczema Icon

Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract

Skin Conditioning

Madecassoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

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
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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 
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene 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 Glycol
Skin Conditioning

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

Learn more about Panthenol

When to use

68 Routines
22% use in am
78% use in pm
47% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
4,127 Routines
36% use in am
64% use in pm
80% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Ilso Super Melting Sebum Softener 43 ingredients

2.7 /5
from 4 ratings
Strong Scent (3) Doesn't Work (1) Expensive (1)
honimoli's avatar

honimoli

3 months ago
Review

I don't think it's the best for dryer skin. I have seen the results on people with oilier skin with lots of sebaceous filaments, and it seems to work for those, but I don't think it reaches deep enough for people with dryer skin. Still, I give it three stars because when I use it, even if it looks the same, my nose does feel noticeable softer than usual and the results last days, even though my Show more

#light
#strong scent
#doesn't work
joyce_'s avatar

joyce

3 months ago
Review

Removes so much sebum in 5 mins

#great value
#strong scent
#works well

COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner 11 ingredients

3.7 /5
from 93 ratings
Light (34) Absorbs Well (33) Works Well (32)
solitaire_'s avatar

solitaire_

9 months ago
Review

It feels nice on my skin, very gentle and hydrating. I like how it doesn't have fragrance. It does have a subtly medicine smell but I think that's because of the ingredients, it's soothing and not too overpowering. This toner leaves my skin glowy the next morning whenever I use it the night before. I use this everyday since my skin got accustomed to it, used to only use it once a week, every week, Show more

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
Meegort's avatar

Meg

9 months ago
Review

A staple in my skin care routine that I stock up on! My ace scaring and residual red acne marks have overall brightened over time. I noticed specifically this when i introduced it to my skin care routine made a hugeee difference in the severity of my breakouts and the quickness of the fading of my acne marks! Make sure you use sunscreen though because i heard some people say it makes blemishes Show more

#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
#works well