What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPerlite
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Diatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-20 Stearate
Emulsifying
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Water, Perlite, Glycerin, Charcoal Powder, Diatomaceous Earth, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Titanium Dioxide, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-20 Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningDiatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-21
CleansingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Magnesium Silicate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Citrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Benzyl PCA
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Linalool
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Diatomaceous Earth, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Papain, Bromelain, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Cetearyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Lactic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Polysorbate 80, Disodium EDTA, Benzyl PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, CI 77891
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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDiatomaceous Earth is an exfoliant. It can be good for oily skin.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
This ingredient is the oil from the apricot.
Apricot Kernel Oil is an emollient and helps soften skin. This is due to its fatty acid components. Some of these fatty acids include linoleic and oleic acid.
This ingredient also has antioxidant properties from Vitamins A, C, and E. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. Besides being antioxidants, these vitamins provide plenty of skin benefits as well.
Learn more about Prunus Armeniaca Kernel OilSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic 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
