What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Silica
Abrasive
Water
Skin ConditioningLava Powder
Skin ConditioningMaris Aqua
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-10
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCharcoal Powder
Abrasive
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica, Water, Lava Powder, Maris Aqua, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyglycerin-10, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Charcoal Powder, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseMaris Aqua is the INCI name for plain old sea water that is filtered and then dropped into a formula.
The name technically covers two slightly different things:
1) Actual sea water pulled from a particular depth and filtered down
2) "Marine spring water" which are fresh-water springs that resurface in the sea
Either way, you're getting water + a cocktail of minerals and trace elements (like magnesium, calcium, potassium sodium, etc).
Officially, COSIng recognizes this ingredient as a humectant that holds and retains moisture, and solvent that helps dissolve other ingredients.
The claims about this ingredient come from its minerals. A 2025 systematic review found that seawater-based therapy showed moderate effectiveness at reducing atopic dermatitis severity and improving skin barrier function.
It also showed favorable safety profile and very minimal adverse effects.
The underlying studies pointed to improvements in stratum corneum hydration, lower transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and a healthier microbial balance.
Much of this benefit is actually attributed to magnesium: a 2005 study found that bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead sea salt solution improved skin barrier function, boosted hydration, and reduced inflammation in atopic dry skin.
It's worth nothing most of this evidence comes from bathing/soaking protocols and mineral-rich waters like the Dead Sea (not necessarily a few drops on an ingredient list).
Overall, this is a gentle, well-tolerated, water-phase ingredient that can offer light hydration and a little mineral boost.
The only caveat is that very high salt concentrations can be drying for already-dry skin.
Learn more about Maris AquaPhenoxyethanol 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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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 Water
