What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Bentonite
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Silt
AbsorbentArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Fragaria Vesca Seed
AstringentPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Chlorella Vulgaris Powder
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCharcoal Powder
Abrasive
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Quaternium-73
Water, Kaolin, Bentonite, Glycerin, Betaine, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Silt, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Fragaria Vesca Seed, Phenoxyethanol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chlorella Vulgaris Powder, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Charcoal Powder, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Quaternium-73
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Diatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Sodium Stearate
CleansingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
PEG-8
HumectantVp/Va Copolymer
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Charcoal
Abrasive
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantAlumina
Abrasive
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Menthol
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Water
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Diatomaceous Earth, Sodium Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, PEG-8, Vp/Va Copolymer, CI 77288, Silica, Charcoal, CI 77492, Mica, Alumina, Chlorphenesin, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Parfum, Menthol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Zinc PCA, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Water, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Bisabolol, Propolis Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractGlycerin (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 KaolinPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
