What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingEchium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingArginine
Masking
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Kaolin, Alcohol Denat., Cetearyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract, Octyldodecanol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Cetearyl Glucoside, Panthenol, Zinc PCA, Allantoin, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium EDTA, Hexylene Glycol, Arginine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Pantolactone, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Bentonite
Absorbent
Kaolin
Abrasive
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Vinegar
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
Emulsifying
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.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 KaolinWater. 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
