innisfree Vitamin C Green Tea Enzyme Brightening Pad Versus House of Hur Clearing Skin Prep Essence Pad
This brightening treatment pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Niacinamide and Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten dull-looking skin and refine skin texture.
This smoothing toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Gluconolactone and Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Dextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingPropanediol
Solvent
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Protease
Exfoliating
Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Dipropylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Phytate, Dextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Gluconolactone, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Propanediol, Cyclodextrin, Beta-Glucan, Protease, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Tocopherol, Glutathione, Ferulic Acid, Madecassoside
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Dextrin
AbsorbentCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Trehalose, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Gluconolactone, Allantoin, Glycolic Acid, Dextrin, Cyanocobalamin, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolDextrin is a starch-derived polysaccharide. It's made by partially breaking down corn, potato, or other plant starches.
Think of it as "half-processed" starch; it's less complex than the original but not fully broken down into sugar like maltodextrin.
In cosmetics, it mainly functions as a bulking agent, viscosity controller, binder, and absorbent. It helps thicken products, stabilize powders, and get certain textures a less "wet" feel.
This ingredient has a pretty solid safety profile; it's recognized as a safe food additive and its large molecular size means it doesn't meaningfully penetrate skin.
Human repeat insult patch tests using a rinse-off facial product containing 42.69% dextrin found no skin irritation or sensitization in 54 subjects.
Typical real-world usage is much lower: usually under 1% as a texture modifier and up to 40% in masks (rinse off products use less).
Learn more about DextrinDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactonePanthenol 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 PanthenolWater. 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 Water
