Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence Versus Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence versus Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence .

Published on April 11, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe essences. They have a total of 14 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, 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 need an update? Let us know.

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Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence

Essence 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.

Essence

Price

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Buy Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence

Starts at $10.86

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Buy Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence

Ingredient Info

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

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence 36 ingredients

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence 35 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

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence 36 ingredients

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence 35 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

AHA (2)

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing (5)

Reduces Irritation (7)

Skin Texture (2)

Reduces Large Pores (3)

Anti-Aging (3)

Dark Spots (4)

Scar Healing (3)

Acne Fighting

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Irritating (2)

Rosacea (2)

Eczema

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing (5)

Reduces Irritation (5)

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging

Dark Spots

Acne Fighting

Brightening

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Ingredients Compared

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

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence 36 ingredients

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence 35 ingredients

Water • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Potassium Hydroxide • Portulaca Oleracea Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate • Glyceryl Caprylate • Panthenol • Madecassoside • Allantoin • 1,2-Hexanediol • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder • Glycolic Acid 4% • Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract • Dextrin • Lactic Acid 4.02% • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Sucrose Stearate • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract • Asiaticoside • Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate • Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine • Madecassic Acid • Ethylhexylglycerin • Centella Asiatica Extract • Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract • Castanea Crenata Shell Extract • Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract • Asiatic Acid • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Cetearyl Alcohol

Houttuynia Cordata Extract • 1,2-Hexanediol • Water • Methylpropanediol • Sodium Hyaluronate • Caprylyl Glycol • Glycerin • Glycereth-26 • Propanediol • Illicium Verum Fruit Extract • Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract • Carbomer • Arginine • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract • Ethylhexylglycerin • Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract • Medicago Sativa Extract • Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract • Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract • Brassica Campestris Extract • Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate • Centella Asiatica Extract • Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate • Panthenol • Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract • Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract • Morus Alba Bark Extract • Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract • Butylene Glycol • Madecassoside • Dextrin • Asiaticoside

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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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.

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence contains this as ingredient number 1.

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 3.

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

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence contains this as ingredient number 2.

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 7.

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.

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence contains this as ingredient number 3.

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 33.

Sodium Hyaluronate

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

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 Hyaluronate

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence contains this as ingredient number 6.

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 5.

Panthenol

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Panthenol (also referred to as pro-vitamin B5) is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin.

lt is a humectant, meaning that it helps the skin attract and retain moisture.

Another benefit is the anti-inflammatory abilities. This means that it's great for sensitive, irritation-prone skin.

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

Learn more about Panthenol

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence contains this as ingredient number 8.

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 28.

Madecassoside

What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

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

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence contains this as ingredient number 9.

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 34.

1,2-Hexanediol

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence contains this as ingredient number 11.

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 2.

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

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence contains this as ingredient number 17.

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 35.

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.

Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.

One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.

Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.

Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.

Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.

Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.

Learn more about Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence contains this as ingredient number 19.

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 27.

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

What it does: Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic

Community Rating: Loved

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract is derived from the leaves of the tea plant. Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from this plant.

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract has many benefits. It contains polyphenols, a strong antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off free-radical molecules that damage skin cells. The antioxidants in green tea neutralize free-radicals from the sun. This gives the skin some extra UV protection, but should not replace sunscreen.

Many components of tea have anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenols and L-theanine help soothe the skin and reduce irritation. L-theanine is an amino acid that makes up most of the amino acids found in tea leaves. The caffeine in Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract helps calm inflamed blood vessels.

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract also contains Vitamin Bs, linoleic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract also has antimicrobial properties.

Research has shown both drinking Camellia Sinensis Leaf Tea and applying it to the skin can help boost skin elasticity and hydration. Studies also show using tea extract may reduce sebum, or oil, production.

Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence contains this as ingredient number 22.

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 23.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is an extract of the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae.

You may know Aloe to be a good sunburn reliever and inflammation reducer. This is because it contains many components that are known to help reduce irritation and itchiness. These include vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, and more. The high water content of aloe also helps give a cooling effect.

Aloe contains the antioxidants Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins neutralize free radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.

The aloe plant is naturally abundant in polysaccharides, a carbohydrate made of sugar molecules. Polysaccharides help hydrate your skin by mimicking your skin's natural carbohydrates.

As it is easily absorbed by the skin, aloe is a great moisturizer. It is both a humectant and emollient. Emollients help trap moisture in your skin, keeping your skin soft. Humectants draw water from the air to your skin.

Other components of aloe include sugars such as monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, choline, many common minerals such as calcium, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.

Aloe does not protect against UV rays, despite it soothing sunburns.

There are over 420 species of aloe but Aloe Barbadensis is the most commonly used for topical products.

Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence contains this as ingredient number 23.

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 15.

Asiaticoside

What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

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

Asiaticoside is an antioxidant and helps with wound healing. It has been shown to increase antioxidant activity during the wound healing process.

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence contains this as ingredient number 25.

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 36.

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.

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence contains this as ingredient number 29.

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 16.

Centella Asiatica Extract

What it does: Cleansing, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing, Soothing, Tonic

Community Rating: Loved

Centella Asiatica Extract is derived from an herb plant native to Southeast Asia. It is rich in antioxidants and amino acids. In skincare products, Centella Asiatica Extract is used for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.

Many active components found in Centella Asiatica Extract, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside, encourage the skin to naturally produce hyaluronic acid. This helps keep our skin hydrated. Many of these components also show antioxidant activity and may help reduce the signs of aging.

Research shows Centella Asiatica can help increase Type I collagen production by increasing fibroblast production. Fibroblast helps form connective tissue.

The combination of all these properties makes Centella Asiatica Extract effective at soothing the skin.

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

Recent studies found madecassoside may help prevent damage from UV rays by preventing UV-induced inflammation. Further research is needed.

This plant 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

Isntree Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence contains this as ingredient number 30.

Fraijour Heartleaf Intensive Calming Essence contains this as ingredient number 25.

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