What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasivePentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBentonite
AbsorbentPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientNymphaea Caerulea Flower Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGuaiazulene
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantBakuchiol
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPerilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingPunica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Salicylate
PreservativeTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantWater, Kaolin, Pentylene Glycol, Bentonite, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Water, Propylene Glycol, Guaiazulene, Glycerin, Bakuchiol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Salicylate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasiveSilt
AbsorbentPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientSodium Trideceth Sulfate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingCeteareth-30
CleansingPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientSorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientLecithin
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate
EmollientBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingSqualene
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningPhoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract
EmollientMaris Aqua
HumectantWater, Kaolin, Silt, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Zinc Oxide, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cocamide Mea, Ceteareth-30, PEG-40 Stearate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lactic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Tristearate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glycine Soja Oil, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Maris Sal, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Maris Aqua
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 KaolinPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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