What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyrtus Communis Leaf Water
MaskingKaolin
AbrasiveBentonite
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
HumectantMontmorillonite
AbsorbentPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
Charcoal Powder
AbrasiveXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol Stearate
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol Laurate
Skin ConditioningSimethicone
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTrisodium EDTA
Dehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, 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
Potato Starch Modified
Sea Silt
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentKaolin
AbrasiveSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCarya Ovata Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Oil
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotato Starch Modified, Sea Silt, Water, Zea Mays Starch, Kaolin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Carya Ovata Bark Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Dimethicone, Trehalose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Beeswax, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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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 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 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