Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores Versus AHAVA Purifying Mud Mask
Updated on March 06, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free wash off masks. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin and oily skin
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances or parabens
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores 23 ingredients
AHAVA Purifying Mud Mask 47 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores 23 ingredients
AHAVA Purifying Mud Mask 47 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyrtus Communis Leaf Water
MaskingKaolin
Abrasive
Bentonite
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Montmorillonite
AbsorbentPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientPEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Laurate
Skin ConditioningSimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTrisodium EDTA
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Myrtus Communis Leaf Water, Kaolin, Bentonite, Butylene Glycol, Montmorillonite, Polysorbate 20, PEG-100 Stearate, Charcoal Powder, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, PEG-150 Distearate, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Sorbitan Laurate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Simethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Trisodium EDTA, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Silt
AbsorbentPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sodium Trideceth Sulfate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
BufferingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingCeteareth-30
CleansingPEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate
EmollientBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingSqualene
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Maris 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
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterKaolin 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 KaolinXanthan 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 GumLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.
This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.
As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.
This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
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 feeds fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores 23 ingredients
AHAVA Purifying Mud Mask 47 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
AHAVA Purifying Mud Mask 47 ingredients
I would never pay my own money for this mask for ethical reasons, but I already have it so… It’s not that good of a mud mask to justify the price, plus it smells horrible and is super gritty so it feels like a scrub when rinsing it off.
