What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingKaolin
AbrasiveMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingPropanediol
SolventAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningOlive Oil PEG-7 Esters
EmollientSodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningCharcoal
AbrasiveCinnamomum Cassia Bark
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingSarcosine
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Kaolin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Charcoal, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Capryloyl Glycine, Sarcosine, Parfum, Sodium Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Glycerin
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
Propanediol
SolventCoco-Glucoside
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasiveOldenlandia Diffusa Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney
HumectantNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Propanediol, Coco-Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Kaolin, Oldenlandia Diffusa Extract, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Morus Alba Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Honey, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideGlycerin (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 KaolinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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 Water