Pyunkang Yul Black Tea Deep Infusion Toner Versus Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Micro Capsule Skin Replenishing Essence
This hydrating toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This hydrating essence is formulated around Camellia Japonica Seed Oil and Gluconolactone to hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventTrehalose
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Methylpropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Cnidium Officinale Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Biota Orientalis Leaf Extract
HumectantPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Coptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialScrophularia Buergeriana Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPiper Methysticum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Trideceth-10
CleansingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantFructose
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Trehalose, Pentylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Panthenol, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Cnidium Officinale Rhizome Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Biota Orientalis Leaf Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Beta-Glucan, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Coptis Japonica Extract, Scrophularia Buergeriana Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Piper Methysticum Root Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glucose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Cholesterol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Trideceth-10, Caramel, Fructose, Maltodextrin, Polysilicone-15, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientAlcaligenes Polysaccharides
EmollientAmodimethicone
Calanthe Discolor Extract
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Amodimethicone, Calanthe Discolor Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carbomer, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Gluconolactone, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Maltodextrin, Maris Sal, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Carrageenan, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinMaltodextrin is a plant-derived carbohydrate made by breaking down starch (usually from corn, potato, or rice). In cosmetic formulas, it's a multitasking absorbent, emulsion stabilizer, and skin conditioner.
This ingredient is mostly used to stabilize emulsions and improve the powdery, non-greasy feel of products (like dry shampoos).
Safety-wise, this ingredient is pretty solid; it's even recognized as a food additive. Both animal and clinical studies found no adverse effects at the levels used in cosmetics.
Industry data shows this ingredient is used up to 45.7% in spray products and up to 33% in powder products.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
