iWhite Korea AERA Calming Gel Wash Versus COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
Updated on July 19, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, sensitive skin and reducing pores
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or silicones
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
iWhite Korea AERA Calming Gel Wash 43 ingredients
COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser 25 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
iWhite Korea AERA Calming Gel Wash 43 ingredients
COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser 25 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Laureth-3
EmulsifyingSodium Sulfate
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Thuja Orientalis Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialThymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Origanum Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Masking
Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRobinia Pseudoacacia Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHyacinthus Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Polygala Tenuifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPlatycodon Grandiflorus Root Extract
Antioxidant
Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Acetylhydroxyprolyl Dipeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Dipeptide-51
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Sodium Riboflavin Phosphate
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Laureth-3, Sodium Sulfate, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Thuja Orientalis Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Origanum Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract, Prunus Mume Flower Extract, Robinia Pseudoacacia Flower Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygala Tenuifolia Root Extract, Platycodon Grandiflorus Root Extract, Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Acetylhydroxyprolyl Dipeptide-12, Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Dipeptide-51, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Riboflavin Phosphate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Chloride
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Styrax Japonicus Branch/Fruit/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract
HumectantNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBetaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethyl Hexanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Styrax Japonicus Branch/Fruit/Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Saccharomyces Ferment, Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine Salicylate, Citric Acid, Ethyl Hexanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.
This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateButylene 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.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTA1,2-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
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.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
iWhite Korea AERA Calming Gel Wash 43 ingredients
COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser 25 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
iWhite Korea AERA Calming Gel Wash 43 ingredients
COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser 25 ingredients
You will find better things out there.
This wasn’t completely destructive to my skin back in my late teens (dehydrated oily-combo skin with hormonal acne I assume) but there’s a reason why I only aimed to finish my tube of this. Doesn’t cleanse very deeply so I felt I needed to use more product (I was oily, sweaty, and in a very place with very polluted air), and tends to leave me more dry Show more
works great on my oily skin, cleanses while not being stripping, so it doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight. 10/10 :)
