Works for
2 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Moisturizing11 ingredients credited for this claimGood support
“Natural BHA Skin Returning Emulsion”
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
arginine, betaine.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: arginine, dimethicone.
Anti-blemish4 ingredients credited for this claimGood support
“Centella Asiatica extract water and hyaluronic acid work together to prevent blemishes from forming and maintain skin hydration.”
This product might be able to help reduce blemishes and clogged pores because it contains betaine salicylate.
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: zinc pca
ExfoliationNot advertised by the brand · 2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: betaine salicylate.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Alcohol, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Centella asiatica leaf water~22–33%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Butylene glycol~4.8–7.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolAlcohol~4.5–6.7%
- Irritation risk
- High
Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties
More about AlcoholDimethicone~4–6.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconeBetaine salicylate~2.8–4.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Exfoliating acid, a "relative" of salicylic acid
More about Betaine salicylateBetaine~2.1–3.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
More about Betaine1,2-hexanediol~0.9–1.35%
Cetearyl olivate~1.4–2.1%
Sorbitan olivate~1.1–1.7%
Cetearyl alcohol~1.1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
More about Cetearyl alcoholHydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer~0.6–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A gelling agent that thickens the product consistency and leaves the skin with a velvety finish
More about Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymerPeg-60 hydrogenated castor oil~0.5–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Peg-60 hydrogenated castor oilEthylhexylglycerin~0.45–1.05%
Allantoin~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
More about AllantoinSodium hyaluronate~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronateXanthan gum~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumZinc pca~0.3–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A compound that combines zinc with a hydrating ingredient PCA. Might to be helpful against acne and clogged pores. Can help calm down inflammation in skin. Could be helpful in reducing the formation of free radicals in skin. Might help to reduce fine lines in wrinkles, but solid evidence is missing
More about Zinc pcaPanthenol~0.15–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
More about PanthenolArginine~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An amino acid that is naturally present in skin and helps keep it hydrated. When used together with AHAs, it can reduce their irritating effect on the skin
More about ArginineEthyl hexanediol~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used to dissolve other ingredients. Might be irritating
More about Ethyl hexanediolMelaleuca alternifolia leaf oil~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
An essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties
More about Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oilCitrus aurantium dulcis peel oil~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
An essentil oil from orange peel. Potential allergen and can be irritating
More about Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oilCentella asiatica extract~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that has been shown to be able to reduce inflammation in skin, support restoration of skin barrier function, as well as support collagen production. Contains active compounds called centelloids: asiaticoside, madecasosside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It can be itself be irritating though.
More about Centella asiatica extractLecithin~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used mostly for creating emulsions - helping oil and water mix together. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about LecithinIngredient list view
Centella asiatica leaf water, Butylene glycol, Alcohol, Dimethicone, Betaine salicylate, Betaine, 1,2-hexanediol, Cetearyl olivate, Sorbitan olivate, Cetearyl alcohol, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Sodium hyaluronate, Xanthan gum, Zinc pca, Panthenol, Arginine, Ethyl hexanediol, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil, Centella asiatica extract, Lecithin
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| COSRXNatural BHA Skin Returning EmulsionYOUR PRODUCT | Dr. Barbara SturmClarifying Face Cream | Pretty skinAloe Vera Moisture Emulsion | ISNTREEAloe Soothing Moist Gel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 55% | 55% | 54% |
| Price | $20.90 | $198.31+$177.41 | $16.29−$4.61 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 5 of 9 | 5 of 9 | 4 of 9 |
| Key difference | — | Niacinamide | Butyrospermum Parkii Butter | Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 18 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 3
- 4
- 5Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin agingncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6
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