Teratu Beauty Brightening & Dark Spot Treatment Serum Versus ELFORMULA Mugwort Soothing Essence Toner
This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Alpha-Arbutin to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This calming toner is formulated around Artemisia Vulgaris Extract and Panthenol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Arisaema Amurense Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-23
Bleaching
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningSaxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Glutathione
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Alpha-Arbutin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate, Arisaema Amurense Extract, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Decyl Glucoside, Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-23, Polyglutamic Acid, Arbutin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Tyrosine, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glutathione, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Sodium Sulfite, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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
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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
