What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Montmorillonite
AbsorbentSilica
Abrasive
Lecithin
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Glycerin
Humectant
Moroccan Lava Clay
Abrasive
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Methylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
CI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Kaolin, Montmorillonite, Silica, Lecithin, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Starch, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Moroccan Lava Clay, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Methylparaben, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, CI 61570, CI 77492, Linalool, Geraniol, Coumarin, Citronellol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Kaolin
Abrasive
Montmorillonite
AbsorbentPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Bentonite
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingLecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Laurate
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Stearate
Skin Conditioning
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingSimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Butylene Glycol, Kaolin, Montmorillonite, Polysorbate 20, Jojoba Esters, PEG-100 Stearate, Bentonite, Glycerin, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Propylene Glycol Stearate, PEG-150 Distearate, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Simethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Laurate, Hexylene Glycol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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 KaolinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolMontmorillonite is a clay (aluminomagnesium silicate) with strong absorption properties. It has a similar pH to skin.
This clay is named after Montmorillon in France.
Learn about other types of clay, such as Kaolin, Bentonite, or Fuller's Earth.
Learn more about MontmorillonitePhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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
