Versus

Ilso Super Melting Sebum Softener - Original (Water) Versus P.Calm Barrier Cycle 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 9 ingredients in common

Suited For

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

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

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

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

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Ganoderma Lucidum Extract

Skin Protecting

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Astringent
Good for Oily Skin Icon

Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Arctium Lappa Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

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

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

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 Icon

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Astringent

Carica Papaya Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Squalane

Emollient
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Glucose

Humectant

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Masking
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Centella Asiatica Extract

Cleansing
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Prunus Mume Fruit Extract

Humectant

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

Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract

Masking
May worsen Eczema Icon

Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract

Skin Conditioning

Madecassoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant 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
Barrier Cycle Toner

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:

  • 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.

Skin Conditioning

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.

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
Skin Conditioning

Carica Papaya Fruit Extract comes from the papaya fruit. Papayas were first domesticated in Mexico and Central America.

This fruit extract contains papain and chymopapain, two types of enzymes. These enzyme have exfoliating and anti-inflammatory properties. One study shows papain may help reduce scarring.

Papaya is also a rich source of antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your skin against damage from free-radical molecules. This may help protect against signs of aging. One antioxidant present in papayas is lycopene.

Papaya also contains Vitamin A, also known as retinol.

While papaya is used as an ingredient to help lighten skin, research is limited on this.

The seeds of papaya have been found to have anti-fungal activity.

Learn more about Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Cleansing, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing

Centella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.

Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.

Studies show the compounds in centella help with:

The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.

Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.

Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.

Learn more about Centella Asiatica Extract

We don't have a description for Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract yet.

Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Madecassoside comes from the super popular skin-soothing ingredient, Centella asiatica. It is one of four active compounds found in the extract of Centella Asiatica.

Madecassoside has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating properties. It contains fatty acids, amino acids, beta-carotene, and phytochemicals.

One study found using Madecassoside with ascorbic acid helped reduce the signs of aging and improved skin hydration.

Learn more about Madecassoside

When to use

57 Routines
26% use in am
74% use in pm
47% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
35 Routines
49% use in am
51% use in pm
89% 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

2 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

2 months ago
Review

Removes so much sebum in 5 mins

#great value
#strong scent
#works well

P.Calm Barrier Cycle Toner 32 ingredients

4.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Great Value (1) Hydrating (1)
km22's avatar

Khim

1 month ago
Review

This is one of my holy grail, I'm a simple wash, tone, moisturize and spf am skincare person and I've tried this first in a 30 ml sample bottle when it first came out. It worked for me and I loved how it felt on my skin so I bought the full size bottle and I thought I wouldn't be able to finish it but now I finished a bottle for so long. Way before sometimes I don't even do skin care so using this Show more

#great value
#hydrating
#absorbs well
#no scent