Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence Versus Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence versus Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence .

Published on March 01, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe essences. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens or sulfates

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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Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence

Secret Key Starting Treatment 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 Real Ferment Micro Essence

Starts at $19.88

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Buy Starting Treatment Essence

Starts at $16.80

Ingredient Info

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

Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence 49 ingredients

Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence 18 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

Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence 49 ingredients

Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence 18 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Exfoliators

Niacinamide

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (3)

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing (4)

Reduces Irritation (3)

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Anti-Aging (3)

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing (2)

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (3)

Redness Reducing (5)

Reduces Irritation (4)

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging

Dark Spots

Scar Healing

Acne Fighting

Brightening

Concerns

Drying

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Ingredients Compared

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

Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence 49 ingredients

Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence 18 ingredients

Bifida Ferment Lysate • Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate • Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice • Rice Ferment Filtrate • Aspergillus Ferment • Glycerin • Dipropylene Glycol • Methyl Gluceth-20 • Water • Betaine • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Ethylhexylglycerin • Trehalose • Lactobacillus • Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Caprylyl Glycol • Trideceth-10 • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Tromethamine • 1,2-Hexanediol • Tropolone • Allantoin • Butylene Glycol • Coptis Japonica Extract • Arginine • Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Calcium Carbonate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Adenosine • Niacinamide • Dextrin • Glycine • Serine • Glutamic Acid • Aspartic Acid • Leucine • Alanine • Lysine • Tyrosine • Phenylalanine • Proline • Threonine • Valine • Isoleucine • Phenoxyethanol • Histidine • Methionine • Cysteine

Water • Glycerin • Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate • Butylene Glycol • Arbutin • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Oligopeptide-123 Rh-Oligopeptide-1 • Dimethicone • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Centella Asiatica Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Physalis Alkekengi Fruit Extract • Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract • Ganoderma Lucidum Extract • Panax Ginseng Root Extract • Hamamelis Virginiana Extract • Oryza Sativa Bran Extract • Portulaca Pilosa Extract

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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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.

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

Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence contains this as ingredient number 6.

Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 2.

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

Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence contains this as ingredient number 9.

Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 1.

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

Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence contains this as ingredient number 11.

Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 11.

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.

Neogen Real Ferment Micro Essence contains this as ingredient number 23.

Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 4.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.