Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask versus Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face Mask .
Published on October 22, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free wash off masks. They have a total of 8 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, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
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
Paula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask 33 ingredients
Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face Mask 26 ingredients
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 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are 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
Paula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask 33 ingredients
Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face Mask 26 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients 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 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients 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:
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 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 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.
Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Paula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask 33 ingredients
Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face Mask 26 ingredients
Salicylic Acid 0.5% • Water • Kaolin • Bentonite • Titanium Dioxide • Butylene Glycol • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Cetyl Esters • Magnesium Aluminum Silicate • Glycerin • Illite • Tapioca Starch • Zea Mays Starch • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract • Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract • Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract • Chlorella Vulgaris Extract • Epilobium Fleischeri Extract • Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract • Brassica Campestris Seed Oil • Allantoin • Bisabolol • Zinc PCA • Copper PCA • Lauroyl Lysine • Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate • Xanthan Gum • Citric Acid • Sodium Citrate • Sodium Chloride • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin
Water • Kaolin • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Glycerin • Glyceryl Stearate Se • Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil • Bentonite • Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate • Cetearyl Alcohol • Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters • Glyceryl Stearate • CI 77499 • Ethylhexylglycerin • Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate • Xanthan Gum • Caprylyl Glycol • Phenylpropanol • Propanediol • Citric Acid • Charcoal Powder • Citrus Limon Peel Oil • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil • Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil • Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil • Tocopherol • Sodium Citrate
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 WaterPaula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask contains this as ingredient number 2.
Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face 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 KaolinPaula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask contains this as ingredient number 3.
Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face Mask contains this as ingredient number 2.
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 BentonitePaula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask contains this as ingredient number 4.
Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face Mask contains this as ingredient number 7.
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 GlycerinPaula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask contains this as ingredient number 10.
Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face Mask contains this as ingredient number 4.
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 GumPaula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask contains this as ingredient number 28.
Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face Mask contains this as ingredient number 15.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidPaula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask contains this as ingredient number 29.
Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face Mask contains this as ingredient number 19.
Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Sodium Citrate helps maintain the pH of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Sodium Citrate is a chelating agent. It neutralizes metal ions from water and prevents them from binding to other ingredients. This ensures the other ingredients will not be altered.
Learn more about Sodium CitratePaula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask contains this as ingredient number 30.
Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face Mask contains this as ingredient number 26.
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.
Paula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask contains this as ingredient number 33.
Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face Mask contains this as ingredient number 13.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Paula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask 33 ingredients
Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face Mask 26 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Paula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask 33 ingredients
Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face Mask 26 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 32 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask.
See 32 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Face Mask.
See 50 alternatives
