Purifying Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Mud Mask

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

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 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 mineral powder valued for its absorbent and soft-feel properties in cosmetics. Cosmetic-grade talc is required to be asbestos-free; inhalation risk from topical application is minimal. Generally well tolerated when used as intended.

A common emulsifier and texture-softener made from glycerin and stearic acid. CIR review of this class found no evidence of reproductive, carcinogenic, sensitizing, or phototoxic effects in the studies examined.

A plant extract used for mild astringent and soothing effects. Evidence for its benefits comes mostly from traditional use and small studies rather than large trials, and the tannins it contains can be mildly irritating for some people, particularly in older distilled formulas that retain trace alcohol.

A blend of cetyl and stearyl fatty alcohols used to thicken lotions and soften skin. It is chemically unrelated to drying alcohols like ethanol, and the CIR expert panel has found fatty alcohols safe as used in cosmetics.

Tea tree oil is used for its antimicrobial reputation in blemish-focused products, but it is a genuine, well-documented contact sensitizer, and its allergy potential rises sharply once the oil has oxidized from air exposure. Fresh, well-preserved, low-concentration formulations are much lower risk than old or improperly stored oil.

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.

A plant-derived water or extract used mainly as a soothing humectant filler. Evidence for dramatic skin benefits beyond mild hydration and soothing is limited, but it is well tolerated by most people.

An inorganic salt used as a chelating agent and pH buffer in cosmetics. Direct topical safety data is limited, but it is considered safe at concentrations used in cosmetic formulations.

A widely used preservative, safe at the legal limit of 1% or less. Often the "paraben-free" replacement.

An antioxidant that helps protect a formula and condition skin. Well tolerated.

An extract from brown kelp (oarweed) rich in polysaccharides and trace minerals, used in cosmetics for moisturizing and antioxidant support. The extract is widely used with a consistent safety profile, though individuals with iodine sensitivity should be cautious.

A widely used, gentle preservative also common in food. It is generally well tolerated, though it can occasionally cause mild, transient irritation in people with already-compromised or very reactive skin.

Used in tiny amounts to set a product to skin-friendly pH. No concern at those levels.

A strong alkali used in tiny amounts to adjust the pH of cosmetics to safe, skin-friendly levels. At the pH found in finished products, sodium hydroxide is neutralized and well tolerated.

A common preservative and fragrance/solvent ingredient found naturally in many essential oils. It is well tolerated by most people at the levels used in cosmetics, but it is one of the 26 EU-designated fragrance allergens and can trigger reactions in people with an existing sensitivity.

A citrus-scented fragrance component. Fine for most, but it oxidizes over time into a known contact allergen, so it must be labelled in the EU.

A mineral UV filter and white pigment used in sunscreens and makeup. It sits on the skin surface rather than being absorbed, and major regulators consider it safe for topical cosmetic use.

An FDA-approved synthetic colorant used in cosmetics to impart a blue hue. Blue dye sensitivity is rare but documented in a small subset of individuals. Generally well tolerated at regulated cosmetic levels.