What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Bentonite
Absorbent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSalicylic Acid
Masking
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Rheum Palmatum Root Extract
Astringent
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Kaolin, Glycerin, Bentonite, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Salicylic Acid, Charcoal Powder, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Mannitol, Sorbitan Stearate, Citric Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polysorbate 60, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-40 Sorbitan Peroleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Opuntia Coccinellifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Phosphate
BufferingSphingolipids
Emollient
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Kaolin, Silica, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, CI 77007, PEG-40 Sorbitan Peroleate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, CI 77499, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lecithin, Mica, Chlorphenesin, Bisabolol, CI 77491, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Opuntia Coccinellifera Flower Extract, CI 77891, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Parfum, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, CI 77510, Sodium Phosphate, Sphingolipids, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Citrate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinKaolin 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 KaolinPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
