What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Propanediol
Solvent
Silica
Abrasive
Bentonite
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Volcanic Ash
Abrasive
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Orchid Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Kaolin, Propanediol, Silica, Bentonite, Glycerin, CI 77891, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Volcanic Ash, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Orchid Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Disodium EDTA, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBentonite
Absorbent
Betaine
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Montmorillonite
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Illite
Abrasive
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Cellulose
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChromium Oxide Greens
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Kaolin, Dipropylene Glycol, Bentonite, Betaine, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Montmorillonite, 1,2-Hexanediol, Illite, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Chromium Oxide Greens, Parfum, Citric Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Bentonite is an aluminium phyllosilicate clay with great absorbent properties. The name 'bentonite' comes from the area where the largest source is found: Fort Benton, Wyoming.
As a clay, bentonite is often used to absorb excess oil and provide exfoliation. It has also been shown to have some antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies show bentonite was effective at calming dermatitis from poison ivy and in diaper dermatitis of infants. Bentonite has also been shown to act as a barrier against toxic compounds on your skin.
Sunscreens containing bentonite display higher water resistance and stay on the skin for much longer. The sunscreens containing bentonite also show higher potency and UV light absorbtion.
Bentonite is naturally created from volcanic ash and several natural weathering/hydrothermal processes.
A common usage of bentonite is removing excess protein from white wines. Bentonite contains a property of being able to absorb large amounts of protein from aqueous solutions.
Phyllosilicate clay has a structure formed by sheets.
Learn more about BentoniteCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAKaolin 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 KaolinSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
