What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBentonite
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Calamine
AbsorbentPropanediol
Solvent
Aluminum Silicate
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Sulfur
Antiseborrhoeic
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
PEG-8
HumectantPolyacrylamide
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract
AstringentOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
C9-11 Pareth-6
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Isostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Bentonite, Glycerin, Calamine, Propanediol, Aluminum Silicate, Silica, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Sulfur, Zinc Oxide, PEG-8, Polyacrylamide, Gluconolactone, Zinc PCA, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Papain, Bromelain, Xanthan Gum, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Salicylic Acid, C9-11 Pareth-6, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Isostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Bentonite
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Succinic Acid
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingOleic Acid
Emollient
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningPopulus Tremuloides Bark Extract
AntiseborrhoeicTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingIngredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 BentoniteEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
