What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningCellulose
Absorbent
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Kaolin
Abrasive
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Glycerin, Water, Cellulose, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Kaolin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrated Silica, Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Polyglycerin-3, Hexylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide NP, Carbomer, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPentane
SolventLactobionic Acid
Buffering
Kaolin
Abrasive
Serine
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Royal Jelly Protein
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Citric Acid, Coco-Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Pentane, Lactobionic Acid, Kaolin, Serine, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Sodium Citrate, Polyquaternium-51, Hydrolyzed Royal Jelly Protein
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
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 KaolinWater. 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
