What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Bentonite
Absorbent
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Volcanic Ash
Abrasive
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Honey
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Abies Sibirica Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingUndecylenoyl Glycine
CleansingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Quartz
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLinalool
Perfuming
CI 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
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Kaolin
Abrasive
Colloidal Sulfur
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hectorite
AbsorbentC10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHypochlorous Acid
Antiseborrhoeic
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Kaolin, Colloidal Sulfur, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Hectorite, C10-18 Triglycerides, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Azelaic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Zinc PCA, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Allantoin, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Bisabolol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Calendula Officinalis Flower, Panthenol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Charcoal Powder, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Hypochlorous Acid, CI 77288
Ingredients 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 AllantoinAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCharcoal powder comes from grounded charcoal. Charcoal can originate from peat, bamboo, coal, wood, coconut shell, or petroleum.
This ingredient has absorbent properties, making it great at absorbing oil.
Citric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 KaolinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolChances 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 ChlorideSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
