What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPumice
Abrasive
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Kaolin
Abrasive
Montmorillonite
AbsorbentCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCarrageenan
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Thymus Zygis Flower Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Water, Pumice, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycerin, Kaolin, Montmorillonite, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Phenoxyethanol, Decyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Hexylene Glycol, Carrageenan, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Thymus Zygis Flower Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glucose, Sodium PCA
Water
Skin ConditioningCellulose
Absorbent
Kaolin
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract
MaskingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Cellulose, Kaolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Isododecane, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Pentylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Carnosine, Disodium Phosphate, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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
