What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Volcanic Soil
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Palmitate
CleansingKaolin
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCharcoal Powder
Abrasive
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Surfactant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Aroma
Methyl Lactate
Perfuming
Verbascum Thapsus Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Rhamnose
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Volcanic Soil, Butylene Glycol, CI 77891, Sodium Palmitate, Kaolin, Mica, Charcoal Powder, CI 77499, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Aroma, Methyl Lactate, Verbascum Thapsus Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Rhamnose, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Diatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Charcoal
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Stearate
CleansingDimethicone
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Antioxidant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Extract
AstringentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantBisabolol
Antioxidant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningWater, Kaolin, Glycerin, Diatomaceous Earth, Charcoal, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Stearate, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Panthenol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Extract, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hexylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Cholesterol, Salicylic Acid, Betaine Salicylate, Glycolic Acid, Ceramide NP, Niacinamide, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Propolis Extract, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Bisabolol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Maltodextrin, Lactobacillus
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
