dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Water/Aqua/Eau
2. Kaolin
3. Bentonite
4. Maris Limus Extract
5. Sulfur
6. Lactic Acid
7. Niacinamide
8. Microcrystalline Cellulose
9. Hamamelis Virginiana Water
10. Butylene Glycol
11. Mandelic Acid
12. Calcium Sulfate
13. Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
14. Tocopheryl Acetate
15. Charcoal Powder
16. Volcanic Ash
17. Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract
18. Phytic Acid
19. Naringenin
20. Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
21. Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
22. Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
23. Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
24. Panthenyl Triacetate
25. Glycerin
26. Galactoarabinan
27. Glyceryl Polyacrylate
28. Xanthan Gum
29. Ethylhexylglycerin
30. 1,2-Hexanediol
31. Benzoic Acid
32. Phenoxyethanol

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains EU-26 allergensContains essential oilsContains fragrance

Key ingredients

溶剂

Water/Aqua/Eau

ABRASIVE

KaolinMicrocrystalline Cellulose

ABSORBENT

Bentonite

ANTI-SEBORRHEIC

Sulfur

BUFFERING

Lactic Acid

SMOOTHING

Niacinamide

ASTRINGENT

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

Other ingredients

Maris Limus ExtractButylene GlycolMandelic AcidCalcium SulfateBambusa Arundinacea Stem ExtractTocopheryl AcetateCharcoal PowderVolcanic AshPeumus Boldus Leaf ExtractPhytic AcidNaringeninDipotassium GlycyrrhizateMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilEucalyptus Globulus Leaf OilMentha Arvensis Leaf OilPanthenyl TriacetateGlycerinGalactoarabinanGlyceryl PolyacrylateXanthan GumEthylhexylglycerin1,2-HexanediolBenzoic AcidPhenoxyethanol

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water/Aqua/Eau

Primary aqueous solvent and carrier; no specific incompatibilities, focus on microbial stability.

Kaolin

Kaolin absorbent and bulk for powders/masks; check for heavy metals and comply with EU colorant limits IV/119

Bentonite

Natural clay for oil absorption in masks or thickening; no allergenicity, ensure high purity batches

Maris Limus Extract

Not decoded yet

Sulfur

Sebum-regulating and anti-seborrheic agent for acne; has distinct odor, low irritancy at standard levels but can be drying.

Lactic Acid

AHA pH adjuster at 0.5-5%; exfoliation/humectancy, mild at low conc., irritating at high, avoid conflict with alkaline preservatives.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide at 2–5%; improves texture, controls oil, brightens; high levels may cause sensitivity

Microcrystalline Cellulose

Cellulose derivative for anti-caking, oil absorption, and physical sunscreen carrier; water-insoluble, affects texture at high levels.

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

Hamamelis water; tannins/flavonoids for astringent and soothing; low conc, generally well-tolerated

Butylene Glycol

Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel

Mandelic Acid

Alpha-hydroxy acid for exfoliation and antibacterial effects; mild penetration, less photosensitivity than other AHAs

Calcium Sulfate

Not decoded yet

Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract

Bamboo stem extract; low-concentration skin conditioner, no significant irritancy data.

Tocopheryl Acetate

Vitamin E derivative antioxidant at 0.1–1%; more stable than tocopherol, store protected from light

Charcoal Powder

Charcoal; adsorbs impurities/oil for cleansers, provides opacity, can be drying or matte.

Volcanic Ash

Mineral absorbent with porous structure for oil absorption; mild abrasive and bulking, requires particle screening

Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract

Not decoded yet

Phytic Acid

Natural chelator for formula stability; acidic, may shift pH at high levels.

Naringenin

Not decoded yet

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate for moisturizing/soothing; inhibits 5-LOX, water-soluble, for sensitive skin.

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil

Tea tree oil, antibacterial and sebum regulating; highly sensitizing at concentrate level, dilute; avoid on broken skin.

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

Eucalyptus leaf oil, strong essential oil; high irritation, strictly limited usage

Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil

Botanical essential oil for fragrance; contains allergenic constituents, sensitive to reactive skin.

Panthenyl Triacetate

Panthenyl triacetate, antistatic and hair conditioning; hydrolyzes to panthenol

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Galactoarabinan

Gum arabic polysaccharide; film-forming humectant; highly soluble.

Glyceryl Polyacrylate

Water-soluble film former at 1–5%; light feel, soluble in polyols, non-occlusive

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

Ethylhexylglycerin

Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel

1,2-Hexanediol

Polyol solvent and preservative booster at 1–5%; light feel, can replace some traditional preservatives

Benzoic Acid

Preservative and pH adjuster at 0.1–0.5%; low water solubility, best in acidic media, irritant at high levels.

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Related products in this category

• synergie-skin Synergie Skin Suprema-C+ with 20% CMF Tri-acid Complex
• synergie-skin Synergie Skin Vitamin B
• loccitane L´Occitane Aqua Réotier Refreshing Eye Gel
• confianca Confiança Sulfur Soap
• seventyone-percent Seventyone Percent The Blue Lagoon
• florence-by-mills Florence by Mills Spot A Spot