What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Sodium Stearate
CleansingSodium Magnesium Silicate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sea Water Extract
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLonicera Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Geranium Maculatum Extract
TonicTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentSpirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Water, Kaolin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Decyl Glucoside, Cellulose Gum, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Carbomer, Tocopherol, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Sea Water Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Lonicera Japonica Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantStearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Moroccan Lava Clay
Abrasive
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMontmorillonite
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Kaolin, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Mica, CI 77891, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Zinc Sulfate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Pyridoxine Hcl, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Moroccan Lava Clay, Capryloyl Glycine, Xanthan Gum, Montmorillonite, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77499, CI 77510, Linalool, Limonene, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 KaolinPhenoxyethanol 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 HydroxideStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
