Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores versus Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask .
Published on May 20, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe wash off masks. They have a total of 11 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, oils, parabens or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Wash Off Mask
Wash off masks are used to treat skin concerns: large pores, dryness, dullness, acne, and much more. They are applied preferably after cleansing (depending on the product’s instructions) and usually have to be removed within a specific time period.
Wash Off Mask
Wash off masks are used to treat skin concerns: large pores, dryness, dullness, acne, and much more. They are applied preferably after cleansing (depending on the product’s instructions) and usually have to be removed within a specific time period.
Price
Ingredient Info
Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores 23 ingredients
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask 23 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores 23 ingredients
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask 23 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores 23 ingredients
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask 23 ingredients
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 • Tapioca Starch • Glycerin • Decyl Glucoside • Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate • Butylene Glycol • Cocamidopropyl Betaine • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer • Bentonite • Kaolin • Charcoal Powder • Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract • Bisabolol • Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract • Lactic Acid • Xanthan Gum • Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • CI 77499 • Phenoxyethanol • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Hexylene Glycol
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterOrigins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask contains this as ingredient number 1.
Kaolin 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 KaolinOrigins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores contains this as ingredient number 3.
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask contains this as ingredient number 10.
Bentonite 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 BentoniteOrigins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores contains this as ingredient number 4.
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask contains this as ingredient number 9.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores contains this as ingredient number 5.
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask contains this as ingredient number 6.
Charcoal Powder is an exfoliant.
Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores contains this as ingredient number 9.
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask contains this as ingredient number 11.
Xanthan 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 GumOrigins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores contains this as ingredient number 10.
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask contains this as ingredient number 16.
Glycerin 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 GlycerinOrigins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores contains this as ingredient number 15.
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask contains this as ingredient number 3.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolOrigins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores contains this as ingredient number 18.
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask contains this as ingredient number 21.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores contains this as ingredient number 19.
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask contains this as ingredient number 22.
Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant. Glycols are a class of alcohols. Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, Hexylene Glycol helps gather dirt and oil on your skin to be washed away.
As an emulsifier, Hexylene Glycol helps keep water and oil together. This prevents them from separating in a product. Hexylene Glycol also thins out the texture of a product by lessening viscosity.
Hexylene Glycol has a small molecular weight.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolOrigins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores contains this as ingredient number 20.
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask contains this as ingredient number 23.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.
Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores contains this as ingredient number 23.
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask contains this as ingredient number 20.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores 23 ingredients
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask 23 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores 23 ingredients
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask 23 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Paula's Choice Pore Clarifying Charcoal Gel Mask 23 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores.
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