Essence
Essence
Korean South Korea
Korean South Korea

What's inside

What's inside

Key Ingredients

No key ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

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Rosa Damascena Flower Water 74%

Masking
Helps reduce irritation IconHelps reduce Skin Redness Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Emollient

Water

Skin Conditioning

Dipropylene Glycol

Humectant

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Niacinamide

Smoothing
Niacinamide IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconHelps brighten skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Scar Healing IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Polysorbate 60

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Propanediol

Solvent
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Emollient
Coconut Derived IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Rosa Damascena Extract

Masking

Tromethamine

Buffering

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking
Coconut Derived IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Adenosine

Skin Conditioning
Helps with Anti-Aging IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising
1 / 0

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Allantoin

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

Panthenol

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

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Emulsifying
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Rice Ferment Filtrate

Skin Conditioning
Helps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps reduce Skin Redness Icon

Morus Alba Bark Extract

Skin Conditioning

Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate

Skin Conditioning

Ceramide NP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Cyanocobalamin

Skin Conditioning

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Masking
Helps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Houttuynia Cordata Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation IconHelps reduce Skin Redness Icon

Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Emollient
Helps with Anti-Aging IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Rosa Damascena Flower Oil

Masking
Oil IconEssential Oil IconFragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient
Fatty Alcohol Icon

Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Antimicrobial
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

C12-16 Alcohols

Emollient

Palmitic Acid

Emollient
2 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract

Astringent

Saussurea Involucrata Extract

Humectant

Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract

Astringent

Royal Jelly Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Maltodextrin

Absorbent
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract

Skin Conditioning

Centella Asiatica Extract

Cleansing
Helps with Anti-Aging IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Scar Healing IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Prunus Persica Fruit Extract

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Barrier Repair IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Achillea Millefolium Extract

Cleansing

Oryza Sativa Bran Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Milk Extract

Skin Conditioning

Pearl Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Cholesterol

Emollient
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Propolis Extract

Skin Conditioning
Propolis IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Emollient
0-2 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconGood for Barrier Repair IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Retinyl Palmitate

Skin Conditioning
1-3 / 1-3 Retinoid IconHelps brighten skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconGood for Dark Spots IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Saccharide Hydrolysate

Humectant

Stearic Acid

Cleansing
2-3 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glucose

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Chondrus Crispus Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness Icon

Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract

Astringent

Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate

Rutin

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Hydroxycinnamic Acid

Skin Conditioning

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Squalane

Emollient
1 / 0 Helps with Anti-Aging IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Hyaluronic Acid

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

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

Potassium Hyaluronate

Skin Conditioning

Dunaliella Salina Extract

Skin Conditioning

Disodium EDTA

Parfum

Masking
Synthetic Fragrance IconFragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Citronellol

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Rosacea IconEU Allergen Icon

Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

Perfuming
Synthetic Fragrance IconFragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Rosa Damascena Flower Water 74%, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 60, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Rosa Damascena Extract, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Adenosine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Ceramide NP, Cyanocobalamin, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, C12-16 Alcohols, Palmitic Acid, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Maltodextrin, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Milk Extract, Pearl Extract, Cholesterol, Propolis Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Stearic Acid, Glucose, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Rutin, Hydroxycinnamic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

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

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Ā 

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 preservativesĀ 
Skin Conditioning

Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.

Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.

Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.

In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.

Learn more about Adenosine
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene 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 Glycol

Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.

This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:

On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.

One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).

Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.

You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA
Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

Learn more about Ethylhexylglycerin
Humectant

Glucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.

Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.

It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.

Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.

Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.

In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.

Learn more about Glucose
Masking, Perfuming

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.

Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of ā€œFRAGRANCEā€ or ā€œPARFUMā€ according to EU and US regulations.

The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.

One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum
Solvent

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Ā 

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol
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. Remember to stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

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