Gongjinhyang Essential Nourishing Emulsion

Name: The History of Whoo - Gongjinhyang Essential Nourishing Emulsion
Brand: The History of Whoo

Efficacy 100/100·High irritancy

Efficacy measures how well the formula delivers the claims the brand advertises · 1 of 1 advertised claim delivered

Based on the ingredient list, "The History of Whoo - Gongjinhyang Essential Nourishing Emulsion" can work well for skin moisturization.

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Product summary

Based on the ingredient list, "The History of Whoo - Gongjinhyang Essential Nourishing Emulsion" can work well for skin moisturization. The formulation is based on a combination of good humectants and emollients. Both are needed to increase the skin hydration level. Humectants in this product (panthenol, biosaccharide gum-1, saccharomyces/barley seed ferment filtrate and butylene glycol) help to increase the water content in the upper layer of the skin. (These ingredients do so by "capturing" water molecules from the outside air or from within the deeper layers of the skin). Ceramide np, cholesterol, dimethicone, squalane and cyclopentasiloxane in this product help decrease the water evoporation from the skin, so that it stays hydrated for longer. These ingredients also soften the skin and take away the feeling of tightness and dryness.

Ingredient callouts

As a plus, this moisturizer also contains Ceramides (ceramide np 0.30% - 0.60%). Ceramides are a type of lipids that our skin produces itself. They are a building block of the skin's barrier. Ceramides used in skincare are synthetic or extracted from plants. They work well for softening the skin surface and "patch holes" in the skin's barrier.
Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) at about 0.55% - 0.85% concentration. In this concentration, Panthenol works effectively to improve the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.

This product contains ingredients that could be beneficial, but their concentrations are too low in this formulation: titanium dioxide, caprylic/capric triglyceride, stearic acid and butyrospermum parkii butter

Irritation risk

This moisturizer contains a bunch of common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide any known benefit for the skin. It might not be the best choice if your skin is sensitive. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be high. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here

You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.

Price

The product retails for 102.06A$ in Australia, from 50.22$ up to 74.00$ in the United States and for 69.99£ in the United Kingdom.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

Product claims breakdown

Moisturizing

14 ingredients contribute at the levels below

Strong evidence

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: biosaccharide gum-1, saccharomyces/barley seed ferment filtrate.

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: dimethicone, squalane.

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: ceramide np, panthenol

PANTHENOLRole: HeroHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function~0.55–0.85%

CERAMIDE NPRole: Key activeA type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin~0.3–0.6%

CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACTRole: Under-dosedCan contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation~0.3–0.55%

CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDERole: Under-dosedA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin~0.35–0.6%

CHOLESTEROLRole: Key activeAn emollient that is naturally found in skin~0.35–0.6%

CYCLOPENTASILOXANERole: Key activeA silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin~1.5–1.8%

DIMETHICONERole: Key activeA 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~2.3–2.8%

GANODERMA LUCIDUM EXTRACTRole: Key activeHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.45–0.65%

SACCHAROMYCES/BARLEY SEED FERMENT FILTRATERole: Key activeA yeast extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin and can help attract water to its upper layers~0.4–0.6%

SQUALANERole: Key activeAn oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.~0.35–0.6%

THEOBROMA GRANDIFLORUM SEED BUTTERRole: Key activeHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and might as well help to attract moisture to its upper layer~0.25–0.5%

BIOSACCHARIDE GUM-1Role: Key activeHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and is claimed to provide a longer-lasting hydration because of its ability to create a water-binding film on the surface of the skin~0.3–0.5%

TRIETHYLHEXANOINRole: Key activeHelps soften the upper layer of the skin~3–3.7%

BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTERRole: Under-dosedA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals~0.3–0.6%

Irritancy

25 flagged ingredients — patch-test recommended

High risk

We flagged 25 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Panax ginseng root extractA plant extract that might have some anti-inflammatory properties, but solid evidence is lacking. It can be irritatingHigh~0.55–0.8%est.

Thymus vulgaris extract—High~0.25–0.45%est.

Cinnamomum cassia bark extractUsed as a fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.3–0.55%est.

AlcoholCan be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial propertiesHigh~0.3–0.55%est.

ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.25–0.4%est.

Alpha-isomethyl iononeA fragrance. Potential allergen and can be irritatingHigh~0.2–0.4%est.

Benzyl benzoateFragrance with sweet balsamic smell. Help to preserve products and dissolve other ingredients. Could trigger allergic reactions and be irritatingHigh~0.2–0.4%est.

Benzyl salicylateA fragrance. Is a likely irritantHigh~0.2–0.35%est.

CitralA fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritantHigh~0.15–0.3%est.

CitronellolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.25%est.

GeraniolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.3%est.

HydroxycitronellalA fragrance. A likely allergen and can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.25%est.

LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.1–0.2%est.

LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.15%est.

TriethylhexanoinHelps soften the upper layer of the skinLow~3–3.7%est.

Macadamia ternifolia seed oilPlant oil from nuts that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Contains a high concentration of oleic acid that can weaken skin's barrier function and increase water-loss while enhancing penetration of other ingredientsLow~2.6–3.2%est.

Ganoderma lucidum extractHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skinLow~0.45–0.65%est.

Zea mays starchUsed to thicken the product's consistencyLow~0.3–0.6%est.

Behenic acidHelps water and oil mix togetherLow~0.45–0.65%est.

Myristic acidHelps oil and water mix together. Could be comedogenicLow~0.3–0.6%est.

Peg-5 glyceryl stearateHelps oil and water mix togetherLow~0.3–0.55%est.

Caprylic/capric triglycerideA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerinLow~0.35–0.6%est.

Theobroma grandiflorum seed butterHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and might as well help to attract moisture to its upper layerLow~0.25–0.5%est.

Peg-10 phytosterolHelps oil and water mix togetherLow~0.3–0.55%est.

Potassium hydroxideUsed to adjust the pH level of productsLow~0.3–0.55%est.

Comedogenic

3 ingredients can clog pores in acne-prone skin

High risk

These ingredients have a comedogenic rating ≥ 2. In leave-on products at higher concentrations they can clog pores for acne-prone skin types.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Zea mays starchUsed to thicken the product's consistencyHigh~0.3–0.6%est.

Butyrospermum parkii butterA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicalsHigh~0.3–0.6%est.

Myristic acidHelps oil and water mix together. Could be comedogenicHigh~0.3–0.6%est.

~ marks concentrations estimated from label position and typical use levels

Ingredients

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