Real Mugwort Clay Mask

The base most products are built on. It carries the other ingredients and has no safety concern.

A mild white clay that absorbs excess oil and lightly buffs the skin surface in wash-off masks; it is well tolerated across skin types and rinses away cleanly.

A humectant that draws water into the skin. One of the best-studied, best-tolerated ingredients in personal care.

A light, low-odor glycol used as a solvent and humectant, extremely common in Korean toners and essences. It has a low reported irritation rate and is graded low concern in published assessments.

A naturally mined clay used in masks to absorb oil and give a tightening, drying feel. It is generally well tolerated on skin; the main real-world caution is sourcing, since unregulated raw clays have occasionally tested with elevated heavy metal content, so buying from a brand that tests each batch matters more than the ingredient itself.

A naturally occurring fatty acid (also made in the body and found in many foods) used to thicken lotions and help stabilize cleansing bars. It is one of the most well-studied emollient ingredients and is not a meaningful irritant at cosmetic use levels.

A soothing humectant that helps skin and hair look conditioned. Very well tolerated.

An extract from oat kernels valued for drawing moisture into the skin and supporting the skin barrier. It is widely used in skincare and generally well tolerated, though very rarely people with gluten sensitivity or oat allergies may experience irritation.

A fermented soybean extract used in skincare for its hydrating and skin-conditioning properties. Well tolerated in cosmetic formulations without documented safety concerns at cosmetic concentrations.

A plant extract used in Korean skincare for its soothing, antioxidant reputation. It is well tolerated with a low reported irritation rate; the soothing claims rest on limited but reasonable evidence.

An extract from the root of the baical skullcap plant, used for antioxidant and skin-conditioning effects. It is generally well tolerated at cosmetic concentrations.

A phospholipid emulsifier from soy or sunflower that binds water and oil and helps other ingredients absorb. It is a natural component of skin membranes, well tolerated, and reviewed as safe as used; a soy-derived grade is not a meaningful concern for a soy food allergy because the protein is largely absent.

A polysaccharide extracted from yeast cell walls or oat bran. Used for hydration and skin conditioning, beta-glucan is well tolerated with emerging evidence for supporting skin barrier function. No safety concerns flagged in cosmetic use.

A small glycol used as a solvent and to boost the absorption of actives, and to help preservatives work at lower levels. It is well tolerated and graded low concern in published assessments.

A natural polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed, used as a thickener and gelling agent in cosmetics. It has a strong safety history in topical formulations and is well tolerated across skin types.

A mineral clay-like absorbent used in powder formulations and dry textures to control oil and provide body. It is widely used in cosmetics, though inhalation of powder particles should be minimized during application.

A fatty alcohol used to soften skin and stabilize creams. Despite the name, it does not dry the skin.

A lightweight humectant and solvent similar in role to propylene glycol, used to carry actives and give lotions a lighter feel. CIR has reviewed it and considers it safe as used in cosmetics.

Xanthan gum is a microbial-fermentation-derived polysaccharide used to thicken and stabilize textures, similarly common in food. Cosmetic panel review of this and related microbial gums found them safe as used, with no meaningful irritation signal at typical concentrations.

A soothing, skin-conditioning compound (also found in comfrey root) commonly added to calm and hydrate irritated or sensitive skin. It has a long history of safe use with very low irritation potential.

A buffering agent used in tiny amounts to set a product's pH, most often alongside gel-forming polymers. It is graded low concern in published assessments at the levels used.

A positively charged conditioning polymer used in hair and skin products to improve texture and feel. It is graded safe by CIR and has a low incidence of reported sensitivities at typical use levels.

A glycerin derivative used as a skin conditioner and preservative booster, often paired with phenoxyethanol to allow lower total preservative levels. It has a low irritation and sensitization profile in safety reviews.