What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPumice
AbrasiveStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycolic Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCharcoal Powder
AbrasiveMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentMannitol
HumectantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingVolcanic Sand
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasiveC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingLactic Acid
BufferingSea Water
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSteareth-20
CleansingSteareth-21
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Pumice, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Dimethicone, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Charcoal Powder, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Mannitol, Zea Mays Starch, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Volcanic Sand, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Lactic Acid, Sea Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Steareth-20, Steareth-21, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caramel, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Glycerin
HumectantSucrose
HumectantPumice
AbrasiveLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialPhytic Acid
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Isethionate
CleansingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientCoconut Acid
CleansingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCharcoal Powder
AbrasiveMannitol
HumectantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Methyltaurate
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentGlycerin, Sucrose, Pumice, Lactic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Water, Mandelic Acid, Phytic Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Isethionate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Coconut Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Charcoal Powder, Mannitol, Zea Mays Starch, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Methyltaurate, Maltodextrin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Charcoal powder comes from grounded charcoal. Charcoal can originate from peat, bamboo, coal, wood, coconut shell, or petroleum.
This ingredient has absorbent properties, making it great at absorbing oil.
This ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilGlycerin (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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidMannitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a humectant and moisturizes the skin. In vitro (not tested on a living organism), mannitol displays antioxidant properties.
When found in aqueous solutions, mannitol tends to become acidic. This is because it loses a hydrogen ion. This is why mannitol can often be found with pH adjusting ingredients, such as sodium bicarbonate.
Fun fact: Mannitol can be found in foods as a sweetener. It can be naturally found in mushrooms, algae, fruits, and veggies.
Learn more about MannitolMicrocrystalline Cellulose is another name for refined wood pulp. It is used as an emulsifier and mattifying ingredient. As an emulsifier, it helps keep ingredients together.
Pumice is an exfoliant.
Sodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasnât been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateWater. 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 WaterZea Mays Starch is starch made from corn. You might know this as cornstarch . It is used to thicken a product. It can replace talc as an absorbent.
The pH of cornstarch is 5.92.
Cornstarch is a common food ingredient used to thicken soups or to make corn syrup.
Learn more about Zea Mays Starch