Versus

Neogen A-Clear Soothing Essence Pad Versus COSRX One Step Original Clear Pad

Exfoliator
Exfoliator
Korean Brand South Korea
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on November 18, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe exfoliators. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain BHA and hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and oils

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

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
A-Clear Soothing Essence Pad

Water

Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning

Isopentyldiol

Humectant

PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Emulsifying
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Tromethamine

Buffering

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising
1 / 0

Salicylic Acid

Masking
BHA IconPreservative IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Allantoin

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

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconFragrance IconOil IconGood for Oily Skin IconMay worsen Eczema Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Panthenol

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice

Skin Conditioning

Cocos Nucifera Water

Masking

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Bleaching
Good for Dark Spots Icon

Glycerin

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

Dipropylene Glycol

Masking

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Centella Asiatica Extract

Cleansing
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract

Skin Conditioning

Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Camellia Japonica Seed Extract

Skin Conditioning

Camellia Japonica Flower Extract

Emollient

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Emollient
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Calendula Officinalis Extract

Skin Conditioning

Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Guaiazulene

Antimicrobial
Fragrance Icon

Calamine

Absorbent

Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract

Skin Conditioning

Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract

Astringent

Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Portulaca Oleracea Extract

Skin Conditioning

Ficus Carica Fruit Extract

Humectant

Adansonia Digitata Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Lilium Tigrinum Extract

Skin Conditioning

Prunus Persica Fruit Extract

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Achillea Millefolium Flower Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract

Emollient

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Humectant
Peptide IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract

Tonic

Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract

Astringent

Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant Icon

Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract

Skin Conditioning

Rhus Semialata Gall Extract

Skin Conditioning

Cananga Odorata Flower Extract

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract

Masking
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil

Skin Conditioning
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Artemisia Vulgaris Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Elaeis Guineensis Oil

Emollient
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Ceramide NP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Cholesterol

Emollient
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Stearic Acid

Cleansing
2-3 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Persea Gratissima Oil

Skin Conditioning
0-3 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Phytosphingosine

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Disodium EDTA

Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isopentyldiol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Salicylic Acid, Allantoin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Cocos Nucifera Water, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Caprylyl Glycol, Guaiazulene, Calamine, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Adansonia Digitata Leaf Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Achillea Millefolium Flower Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Rhus Semialata Gall Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phytosphingosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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.

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, 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 

Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil comes from hydrogenated castor oil. It is a solubilizer and emulsifier.

As a solubilizer, it helps dissolve ingredients into a water-based version. It is also an emulsifer. Emulsifier help prevent oils and water from separating. Both these properties help create evenly-spread and uniform products.

Basically, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil helps hold ingredients together.

Learn more about PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing

Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.

Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.

Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Learn more about Allantoin
Antioxidant, Perfuming

This tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the Tea Tree plant. Tea tree oil has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.

According to the book Journal of Profiles of Drug Substances, tea tree helps in reducing acne-causing bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes. This is due to the Terpinen components of tea tree oil.

Tea tree may cause sensitivity and irritation for some people. This oil naturally contains fragrance such as linalool and limonene.

However, research shows irritation usually occurs when using pure tea tree oil and not in cosmetic products.

Tea tree oil was found to help relieve the symptoms of psoriasis in one study.

Tea tree oil is toxic when ingested. Another study showed it to caused damage to the nervous system of dogs and cats when applied to their skin or given orally.

Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

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
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
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

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

When to use

1 Routine
0% use in am
100% use in pm
100% use every 3_days
118 Routines
28% use in am
72% use in pm
63% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Neogen A-Clear Soothing Essence Pad 65 ingredients

A-Clear Soothing Essence Pad hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

COSRX One Step Original Clear Pad 14 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 4 ratings
Absorbs Well (2) Great Value (2) Light (2)
ImYuuuuuu's avatar

ImYuuuuuu

1 year ago
Review

It has really saved my skin from so many problems! I bought it because of all the good reviews and it did not disappoint! After a month and a half of using it (I use it every night) I have noticed the following changes:

I no longer have those massive breakouts. Only one or two spots when I'm about to have my period.

My skin is much smoother.

The bumps on my chin have disappeared.

I no Show more

#great value
#light
#absorbs well
#light scent
jordanlin's avatar

Jordan Lin

8 months ago
Review

Doesn’t do anything… Really just irritates my skin and doesn’t help with pores, closed comedones, and redness. Please just dont buy “exfoliating” toner pads, opt for regular toners.

#drying
#broke me out
#irritating
#strong scent