This acne exfoliator is formulated around Perlite and Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil to clear breakouts and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Perlite
Absorbent
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMannitol
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
ChelatingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Cellulose
Absorbent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMenthol
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Leptospermum Petersonii Oil
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Coco-Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat., Perlite, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Caprylyl Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Xanthan Gum, Mannitol, Sodium Gluconate, Salicylic Acid, Cellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Menthol, Limonene, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Leptospermum Petersonii Oil, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Tocopherol, CI 19140, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Cetearyl Olivate
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylic Acid
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXylitol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Sodium Chloride
MaskingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Tetrasodium EDTA
ChelatingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Hydrated Silica, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Propanediol, Glycerin, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Jojoba Esters, Coco-Glucoside, Cetearyl Olivate, Glycol Distearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xylitol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Sodium Chloride, Benzoic Acid, Citral, Linalool, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCaprylyl 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 GlycolCoco-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 GlycerinLimonene is the compound that gives citrus peel its smell.
In skincare, it shows up as a standalone fragrance ingredient or as a natural compound of citrus and other essential oils.
You'll typically see this ingredient used in very small amounts; anything above 0.001% in a leave-on product or 0.01% in a rinse-off has to be named on the label in the EU. The citrus oils that carry it sit around 0.5-1% in a finished formula.
Fresh limonene is a weak allergen; the real issue is that it slowly reacts with air and then breaks down from oxidation to create hydroperoxides (which are strong sensitizers). This is why suppliers are required to keep the peroxide value below 20 mmol.
Positive reactions in people being investigated for eczema vary:
It's worth skipping if you have a known fragrance allergy or a compromised barrier, but the risk is low for most people.
Older or long-opened products are also more likely to bother you than fresh ones due to oxidation.
Learn more about LimonenePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium 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
