What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasiveBentonite
AbsorbentPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Volcanic Ash
AbrasiveStearic Acid
CleansingHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCharcoal Powder
AbrasiveHoney
HumectantSodium Phytate
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingAbies Sibirica Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Martini Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingMyristic Acid
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingUndecylenoyl Glycine
CleansingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentLauric Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientQuartz
AbrasiveCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Kaolin, Bentonite, Propanediol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Volcanic Ash, Stearic Acid, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Allantoin, Charcoal Powder, Honey, Sodium Phytate, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Abies Sibirica Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Myristic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Cetyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Capryloyl Glycine, Maltodextrin, Lauric Acid, Palmitic Acid, Quartz, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Linalool, CI 77499
Kaolin
AbrasiveWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialMel
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCamphor
MaskingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentCalcium Chloride
AstringentMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Chlorohydrate
AstringentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningIngredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinEthylhexylglycerin 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 KaolinChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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