What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Bentonite
Absorbent
Kaolin
Abrasive
Glyceryl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Parfum
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Phytic Acid
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Bentonite, Kaolin, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alcohol Denat., Palmitic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Dimethicone, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Maltodextrin, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate, Alcohol, Citric Acid, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Phytic Acid, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBentonite
Absorbent
Artemisia Princeps Extract
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Illite
Abrasive
Artemisia Montana Leaf Powder
Exfoliating
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Castanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Montmorillonite
AbsorbentCalcite
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Angularis Seed Powder
Canadian Colloidal Clay
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventAlgin
Masking
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Kaolin, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Bentonite, Artemisia Princeps Extract, Stearic Acid, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Illite, Artemisia Montana Leaf Powder, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Montmorillonite, Calcite, Phaseolus Angularis Seed Powder, Canadian Colloidal Clay, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Beta-Glucan, Methylpropanediol, Algin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Tromethamine, Polyquaternium-51, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
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 AllantoinBentonite 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 BentoniteCetyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 KaolinSalix Alba Bark Extract comes from the bark of the white willow tree. The official CosIng listing states this ingredient to have astringent, skin conditioning, soothing, and tonic properties.
Its star compound is salicin, a natural glucoside that is chemically related to salicylic acid. That's why you'll often see it marketed as a "natural BHA alternative" but that's a bit of a stretch.
Your skin can't convert salicin to salicylic acid because it needs specific enzymes that aren't present on the skin's surface. It won't behave like true salicylic acid, especially at the concentrations used in cosmetics.
However, this ingredient has its own perks. It contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins that give it proven antioxidant and soothing properties.
An 8-week clinical study found a cream with 2% of this extract improved skin microcirculation, elasticity, and dark circles. This is most likely due to its role in increasing hyaluronic acid synthesis in fibroblasts and improved vascular integrity.
Another study found a topical serum with 0.5% salicin showed improvements in visible signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and texture.
Just be careful if you have a known aspirin/salicylate allergy and be sure to consult with a medical professional about using this ingredient if you do.
Fun fact: Willow Bark extract has been used for thousands of years and ancient civilizations used white willow to help treat pain and fevers.
Learn more about Salix Alba Bark ExtractStearic 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 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
