Versus

TONYMOLY Vital Vita 12 Pore Care Ampoule Versus Jack Black Protein Booster Skin Serum

Ampoule
Serum
Korean Brand South Korea
American Brand United States

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 14 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid, peptides, retinoid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

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
Vital Vita 12 Pore Care Ampoule

Water

Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Niacinamide

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

PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer

Solvent

Bis-PEG-15 Methyl Ether Dimethicone

Emulsifying
Silicon Icon

Hydroxyacetophenone

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Emulsifying
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Panthenol

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

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising
1 / 0

Centella Asiatica Extract

Cleansing
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Tromethamine

Buffering

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Portulaca Oleracea Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Adenosine

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

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

Disodium EDTA

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Masking
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Vitex Agnus-Castus Extract

Astringent

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconFragrance IconOil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Oily Skin IconMay worsen Eczema Icon

Biotin

Antiseborrhoeic

Arctium Lappa Root Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation Icon

Phellinus Linteus Extract

Skin Conditioning

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

Perfuming
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Squalane

Emollient
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Soluble Collagen

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Emollient

Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate

Emollient

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil

Masking
Oil Icon

Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Cnidium Officinale Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Bleaching
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

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

Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine

Emulsifying

PEG-35 Castor Oil

Emulsifying
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Salvia Sclarea Oil

Masking
Oil Icon

Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Calcium Pantothenate

Maltodextrin

Absorbent
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate

Absorbent

Stearic Acid

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

Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Cetearyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 1 Fatty Alcohol IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract

Skin Conditioning

Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate

Skin Protecting

Alcohol

Antimicrobial
Alcohol IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Oenothera Biennis Oil

Emollient
3 / 2 Oil IconHelps reduce irritation IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil

Masking
0-2 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Octyldodecanol

Emollient

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Pyridoxine Hcl

Skin Conditioning

Polysorbate 20

Emulsifying
0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Polyquaternium-51

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Ceramide NP

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

Lactic Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Pvp

Emulsion Stabilising
0 / 0

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Sodium Acetate

Buffering

Lecithin

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Lysine

Skin Conditioning

Inositol

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Retinyl Palmitate

Skin Conditioning
1-3 / 1-3 Retinoid IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

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

Glycolic Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Linoleic Acid

Cleansing
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Silica

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Oligopeptide-1

Skin Conditioning
Peptide Icon

Fullerenes

Antimicrobial

Glyceryl Arachidonate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glyceryl Linolenate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Folic Acid

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Pyridoxine

Skin Conditioning

Thiamine Hcl

Masking

Cyanocobalamin

Skin Conditioning

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Bis-PEG-15 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Carbomer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Vitex Agnus-Castus Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Biotin, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Squalane, Soluble Collagen, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, PEG-35 Castor Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Calcium Pantothenate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate, Alcohol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Polysorbate 20, Polyquaternium-51, Ceramide NP, Lactic Acid, Pvp, Tocopherol, Sodium Acetate, Lecithin, Lysine, Inositol, Retinyl Palmitate, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Silica, Oligopeptide-1, Fullerenes, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Thiamine Hcl, Cyanocobalamin

Protein Booster Skin Serum

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

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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
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
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
Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.

A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.

Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Xanthan 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
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
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent

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.

This ingredient has many skin benefits:

This ingredient contains polyphenols, a strong antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off molecules that damage skin cells.

On top of that, 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. The caffeine in Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract helps calm inflamed blood vessels.

Other compounds found in tea include: Vitamin Bs, linoleic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.

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
Masking, Skin Conditioning

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil is oil expressed from the leaves of the rosemary plant.

Rosemary Leaf Oil is a fragrance and helps give your product a scent. If you are sensitive to irritating fragrances, this one contains camphor. Camphor has been found to irritate skin.

This oil also contains antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. As an antioxidant, it may protect you skin against damage. This can help slow down the signs of aging.

Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Skin Conditioning

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.

Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.

It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.

Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking

Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is usually an astringent alcohol.

These alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.

Other types of astringent alcohols include:

According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.

Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.

Fatty alcohols come from plant oils such as coconut oil. These can help hydrate the skin and are non-irritating. Some fatty alcohols include cetyl and stearyl alcohol.

Learn more about Alcohol
Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
Emulsifying

Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.

As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.

Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.

The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.

Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.

Learn more about Polysorbate 20
Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol
Skin Conditioning

Retinyl palmitate is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the superstar class of anti-aging ingredients that include tretinoin and retinol.

This particular ingredient has had a bumpy year with its rise and fall in popularity.

First, Retinyl palmitate is created from palmitic acid and retinol. It is a retinol ester and considered one of the weaker forms of retinoid.

This is because all retinoids have to be converted to Tretinoin, AKA retinoic acid. Retinyl Palmitate is pretty far down the line and has to go through multiple conversions before its effects are seen.

Due to this long and ineffective conversion line, the benefits of Retinyl Palmitate are debated.

Studies show Retinyl Palmitate to help:

Dermatologists say this ingredient is ineffective because it isn't used in high enough concentrations in cosmetics.

This ingredient used to be found in sunscreens to boost the efficacy of sunscreen filters.

The downfall of Retinyl Palmitate was due to released reports about the ingredient being correlated to sun damage and skin tumors.

While there is a study showing this ingredient to cause DNA damage when exposed to UV-A, there is no concrete proof of it being linked to skin cancer. It is safe to use when used correctly.

All retinoids increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun in the first few months of usage. Be especially careful with reapplying sunscreen when using any form of retinoid.

Currently, this ingredient is still allowed in cosmetics all over the world. In Canada, cosmetics must have a warning label stating the product to contain Retinyl Palmitate

Fun fact: This ingredient is often added to low-fat milk to increase the levels of Vitamin A.

Learn more about Retinyl Palmitate

When to use

6 Routines
50% use in am
50% use in pm
100% use every day
6 Routines
50% use in am
50% use in pm
100% use every day