What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Kaolin
Abrasive
Water
Skin ConditioningBentonite
Absorbent
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Isododecane
EmollientAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingRosa Rugosa Flower Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-120 Glyceryl Stearate
Surfactant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantKaolin, Water, Bentonite, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Isododecane, Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, Rosa Rugosa Flower Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-120 Glyceryl Stearate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Propanediol
Solvent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Cellulose
Absorbent
Ceteareth-20
CleansingLecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Kaolin is a clay. It is used for oil control and to help minimize pores. Like other clays, kaolin has the ability to absorb excess sebum or oil. This can help clean out pores and mattify the skin.
Some types of kaolin may have exfoliating properties. When water is added to kaolin, it becomes a paste with small abrasive particles.
Most kaolin is a white color, but may be pink/orange/red depending on where it comes from.
The name 'kaolin' comes from a Chinese village named 'Gaoling'. Kaolin clay comes from rocks rich in kaolinite. Kaolinite, the mineral, has a silicate layered structure. Kaolinite is formed from chemical weathering of aluminum siilicate minerals.
Besides skincare, kaolin is commonly used to make glossy paper, in ceramics, toothpaste, and as medicine to soothe stomach issues.
Learn more about KaolinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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
