Which moisturizer is better? Cosrx Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream, Cosrx Balancium B5 D-Panthenol Cream or Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cure Balm

Finding an ideal moisturizer can be tricky. Lately, I've tested three different K-beauty moisturizers - Cosrx Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream, Cosrx Balancium B5 D-Panthenol Cream and Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cure Balm. What do these three products have in common? They are all products that should strength your skin barrier and soothe your skin. Which one is the best? 

About COSRX

COSRX is a South Korean brand which you might know from the internet, it's a huge brand - beauty community loves COSRX products. Lots of beauty bloggers love COSRX and there's one reason why COSRX got so big - the product quality and the affordable price. COSRX for me was one of the first K-beauty brands I tried and I keep buying their Acne Pimple Master Patches all the time - in the US it's different but in Europe getting acne patches is not an easy thing. In 2018 COSRX released so many products that I had a problem to be up to date with all the new products. Even if COSRX is mostly known for their acne-prone skincare products they make their formulas simple and universal so even if your skin is dry you might be still able to use them - oily skin can get dehydrated as well. COSRX is a cruelty-free brand and that's another good point of this brand, but it's not a vegan brand since they use snail mucin, beeswax, propolis, etc.

About Illiyoon

Illiyoon is a brand which many people don't even know about and it makes me surprised. It's one of the brands that belong to Amore Pacific - the mother company of Laneige, Hanyul, Sulwhasoo, Innisfree, Hera or Primera. Illiyoon makes products for skin that needs special care, but each formula contains traditional Korean ingredients. Amore Pacific collaborated with Aestura to develop new patented ingredients (or I should use word "complex") - including Ceramide Skin Complex which you can find in Ceramide Ato series.

Cosrx Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream - Packaging

I've made a review of this cream before - it's a plastic tube that comes in a paper packaging.

Cosrx Balancium B5 D-Panthenol Cream - Packaging

COSRX Balancium B5 D-Panthenol Cream is very similar to its Ceramide sibling. At first, I thought its the same product but in a new design and with a new name.

Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cure Balm - Packaging

Thie cream is also a plastic tube that comes in a paper box. Blue and white are the main colours of the packaging.

Cosrx Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream - Texture & Scent

The texture and scent are bit strange and funny - I can smell Bergamot Oil and I'm not wrong - even if it's the last ingredient on the list I still feel it. The texture is like a cream that is not gel but it's very ductile. You can feel the oiliness in it and that doesn't mean this cream has to be bad or comedogenic, it's more about making a layer to prevent TEWL. The product itself contains some oils and that might be the reason why it's so oily.

Cosrx Balancium B5 D-Panthenol Cream - Texture & Scent

Balancium B5 D-Panthenol has a texture which gives me this less rich feeling and it lacks in oiliness. It feels a bit blunt. The scent is similar.

Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cure Balm - Texture & Scent

It has almost no scent and the texture feels a bit like a glycerin cream. The texture is light and rich at the same time.

Cosrx Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream - Ingredients

Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sucrose Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil, BeesWax, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Cassia Obtusifolia Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil

Centella Asiatica Leaf Water is a hydrosol of popular ingredient that stays in skincare trends. Lots of ingredients used in skincare have a long history of use in medicine. This ingredient isn't different because Centella is a part of Ayurveda, a traditional (or if you prefer - alternative) medicine used by people for ages. Nowadays we associate it with India. Centella is a herb mainly used in skincare for its healing properties. Butylene Glycol is a moisturizer and solvent, but it's also alcohol. You see, not every alcohol in skincare is bad. Some of them have positive effects on your skin - just like Butylene Glycol which is a popular substance even in eco/green cosmetic products. Glycerin is one of the most popular humectants in skincare. There's a large number of myths around glycerin like it can clog your skin. It doesn't clog your pores, but too much glycerin can make a sticky layer on the skin and even make your skin dryer than before due to TEWL (Transepidermal Water Loss). Still, it's an ingredient which we want to see in formulas.

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil is an oil which you know from your kitchen. It's an emollient and a source of Vitamin E, linoleic acid and oleic acid. Even acne-prone skin can use it. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient. It's a combination of coconut oil and glycerin which makes mild, gentle and delicate emollient. It thickens the formula, but it also makes skin feel smooth in touch. Cetearyl Alcohol even if sounds bit scary, it's good alcohol. It's oil-soluble fatty alcohol. It's a great emollient and emulsifier. Betaine is derived from sugar beets. It's an amino acid that keeps your skin moist and you might want to use it in your haircare routine. 1,2-Hexanediol is a solvent. Cetearyl Olivate and Sorbitan Olivate are nothing else than Olivem 1000. It's a natural emulsifier. Ceramide NP or Ceramide 3 is an ingredient which we want to see in our products. Ceramides naturally occur in human skin and they have an important role. You can find them in the lipid barrier of the skin along with cholesterol and fatty acids. Ceramide is like a cement of the skin, it makes sure that your skin won't get dehydrated. Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil and Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil are emollients. Beeswax or Cire D'abeille (or Cera Alba) is a non-vegan (and vegetarian) friendly emollient. Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer or Sepinov EMT 10 is a thickener with emulsifying properties.

Ethylhexylglycerin is a preservative, it keeps your products fresh. Cyclomethicone is not only an emollient, humectant and thickener but also a silicone. I'm aware that because of the internet, people treat silicones like the worst ingredients you can find in the product. But are they as bad as people say? No! Silicones are good for the skin since they work as occlusives - what they do is protect the skin from dehydration. Cyclomethicone is a volatile silicone, which means that once you apply it on the surface of your skin, it will evaporate. It won't get absorbed by the skin, that's why you shouldn't be scared. If you're allergic then the good news is that the chance of getting allergic reactions to silicones is very rare.

Niacinamide is a miracle ingredient, it does lots of great work. Having problems with dark spots? Try Niacinamide! Acne? Niacinamide will be good for you too! Problems with skin barrier? Solve it with Niacinamide! Wrinkles? You might want to try Niacinamide as well. Sensitive skin might find Niacinamide bit problematic when it's mixed with Vitamin C or used in the same routine as Vitamin C, but I can't deny Niacinamide is a skincare treasure! Sodium Hyaluronate is a salt form of a popular Natural Moisturizing Factor - Hyaluronic Acid. Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid and Madecassic Acid are related to Centella Asiatica, they help with wound healing. Cassia Obtusifolia or Senna Obtusifolia is a legume. It's quite common in traditional medicine. People believe that Cassia Obtusifolia Seed Extract is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil - is an essential oil. It's a phototoxic substance that's why you shouldn't use it if you plan to sunbathe. I would recommend to be careful with this substance during the summer. It might have a nice scent, but some people are allergic to it and if you're pregnant - it's good to avoid it.

Cosrx Balancium B5 D-Panthenol Cream - Ingredients

Water, Panthenol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Vinyl Dimethicone, Silica, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Raspberry Ketone

Panthenol is nothing else than Pro-vitamin B5, a soothing moisturizer with positive meaning to the skin barrier. It speeds up the healing process. Pentylene Glycol is a moisturizer and solvent. Silica is a thickener. Polymethylsilsesquioxane is a weird ingredient, it makes the texture, but it also can visually hide wrinkles by filling them. Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid are cousins of Hyaluronic Acid - this trio helps with moisture. Raspberry Ketone gives the scent to the formula, so congrats to COSRX for listening to us saying that we want formula free from essential oils.

Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cure Balm - Ingredients

Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Natto Gum, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Disodium EDTA, Diisostearyl Malate, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Methyl Trimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Squalane, Bupleurum Chinensis Root Extract, Arachidyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Alcohol, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Hyaluronic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tremella Fuciformis (Mushroom) Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceramide 3

You probably know Natto as this weird Japanese dish with typical scent. Natto Gum is a byproduct of soy fermentation. Brands are using Natto Gum as a moisturizer and soothing ingredient - if you're allergic to soy, you are probably not allergic to fermented soy. Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract and Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract are ingredients from traditional medicine and cuisine. Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter has a wide range of use - people use it to prepare dishes, in medicine, but also cosmetics. It's an emollient which all skin types should love, but oily skin might have a tiny problem with it. It has a mild UV protection (around SPF 3) so it shouldn't be used as a sunscreen. It's great for dry skin and during the winter to protect the skin since it leaves a film on the surface of the skin. It's also a source of vitamins such as Vitamin E and Vitamin A. Vitellaria Paradoxa trees aka shea butter trees can be found in Africa that's why it is so important to use shea butter from brands with Fairtrade certification. Squalane is my favourite ingredient. Squalane is the safest oil you can use on your skin - it shouldn't give any bad reactions to your skin, because it naturally occurs in your sebum. With age we are losing it, that's why we need it. It's a great emollient. Still the most important here is Ceramide 3 aka Ceramide NP. We saw this ingredient before in Cosrx Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream.

How does Cosrx Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream work?

How do I feel about this product? The texture is bit weird and it's more like a night cream or a cream for a very cold winter than a cream which I can use daily because some sunscreens and foundations don't go along with it. The scent is not easy to spot on your skin and the cream doesn't leave the sticky film but you can still feel it on your skin because after the application skin is getting soft and velvet in touch. If you have fresh wounds or acne - the Bergamot Oil might be irritating but the good thing is that the tiny amount of the cream is enough to cover the face and neck. I always wait about 30 minutes before I go to sleep because if you put your face on the pillow after the application - the whole formula will end up on the pillow. It's not a very lightweight formula but I wouldn't call it heavy. As I said before for dry skin, sensitive skin, winter and skin that needs to restore the skin barrier this cream might be an option.

Check full review of COSRX Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream

How does Cosrx Balancium B5 D-Panthenol Cream work?

Cosrx Balancium B5 D-Panthenol Cream is very similar to Cosrx Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream. The texture reminds me of a glycerin skin and while you apply this cream you'll feel it's bit blunt. My mom used this cream and Cosrx Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream, what she said is that B5 D-Panthenol doesn't work for her - while Ceramide version helped her with rosacea, B5 D-Panthenol did nothing on the skin, it was a good cream because it kept the skin moist, but it didn't help as much as Ceramide Cream. I would recommend this cream if you have acne or sensitive skin and you don't need to strengthen your skin barrier.

How does Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cure Balm work?

I started to use Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cure Balm and since Cosrx Balancium B5 D-Panthenol Cream didn't work for my mom - after two weeks I had to share this cream and then... give it up for my mom. This only means how good Illiyoon cream is. Both my mom and I enjoyed Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cure Balm - it has this bit oily and soft texture, it makes your skin smooth. Even if Ceramide 3 is almost non-existing here, the amount of shea butter helps my skin. It keeps my skin hydrated and during the colder period, it worked well. I'm not sure how it'll work during the summer, but if you feel like your skin has problems with a barrier or you need more hydration - it might be a good choice.

COSRX or Illiyoon? Which one should I choose?

Honestly, I would recommend both Ceramide creams. I'm not a fan of COSRX B5 version, even if it has a better composition - it has no essential oils which makes it safer than ceramide version.

Cosrx Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream - Price & Where to buy it?

You can buy Cosrx Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream on Yesstyle (you can use code BETWEENDOTS to get 2-5% off) or Cosmetic-Love.

Cosrx Balancium B5 D-Panthenol Cream - Price & Where to buy it?

You can buy Cosrx Balancium B5 D-Panthenol Cream on Yesstyle (you can use code BETWEENDOTS to get 2-5% off) or Cosmetic-Love.

Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cure Balm - Price & Where to buy it?

You can buy Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Cure Balm on Yesstyle (you can use code BETWEENDOTS to get 2-5% off) or Cosmetic-Love.

All three creams are different, each one has positive effects and I hope you'll find a good moisturizer for yourself.

Have you tried any of these?

More: BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | PORTFOLIO 

***This post contains affiliate links, you don't have to use them, but I would be thankful if you do - it helps me pay for the domain***