
Highlights
WHAT IS IT?
Face scrub with natural bamboo exfoliators
FEATURES
Removes excess oil, unclogs pores, gentle exfoliation
BEST FOR
oily
CHECKS
No harsh chemicals, no artificial perfumes
Who Is It For?
All Ages All GendersWhat Does It Help With?
Unclogs Pores Removes Excess Oil Prevents BreakoutsBudget
Affordable (under $30)How To Use
Which routine should it be used in?
Instructions:
Key Information
What Guardian Says
Product Description:
A gentle face scrub that removes dirt, oil and dead skin cells while being kind to skin. Contains natural bamboo exfoliators, zinc and witch hazel.
About the Brand:
Ingredients Overview
Ingredients List
Aqua, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Benzophenone-4, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextri
Key Ingredients
bamboo exfoliators, witch hazel, zinc
Ingredients Details
Acrylates/c10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Common Name(s): Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Delivers targeted skin-conditioning or bioactive benefits through a specific mechanism of action suited to the formulation's intended purpose.
Why It's Used: Specialty actives address specific skin concerns through targeted molecular mechanisms, providing efficacy beyond what base formulation ingredients alone can achieve.
How It Works: The bioactive compound interacts with specific molecular targets in skin cells or the extracellular matrix โ enzymes, receptors, structural proteins, or signaling molecules โ triggering beneficial biological responses.
Typically Found In: Serums,treatments,moisturizers,specialty products
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Specialty actives
Secondary Functions: Skin-conditioning,anti-aging
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.01โ5%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Specialty active ingredient; check individual sourcing for vegan status.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1
Comedogenicity Rating: 0
Sensitivity Concerns: Low sensitization potential at recommended use concentrations.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Well-characterized cosmetic ingredient with established safety profile. generally non-irritating at typical use concentrations. suitable for leave-on and rinse-off cosmetics.
Works Well With: Niacinamide,hyaluronic acid,vitamin c,peptides
Avoid Combining With: Incompatible with oxidizing agents; check ph stability
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Specialty actives typically work through enzyme inhibition (e.g., tyrosinase inhibition for brightening, mmp inhibition for anti-aging), receptor activation (e.g., retinoid receptors, ppar-ฮณ for barrier genes), or transcription factor modulation (e.g., nrf2 for antioxidant gene upregulation). structure-activity relationships determine potency and selectivity.
Last Verified: Cosing eu database; pcpc cosmetic ingredient safety reviews; ingredient-specific safety and efficacy literature
Primary Sources: 2025-01-15
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Common Name(s): Bambusa arundinacea stem extract,bambusa arundinacea stem extract,botanical extract,phytochemical active
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides antioxidant protection from polyphenol radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory activity from terpenoid nf-kb/cox pathway inhibition, and skin conditioning from the phytochemical secondary metabolite complex.
Why It's Used: Bambusa arundinacea stem extract is selected for the characteristic secondary metabolite signature of bambusa arundinacea โ whether polyphenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, or polysaccharides, the phytochemical profile provides antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, or skin conditioning benefits specific to this botanical species.
How It Works: Polyphenol catechol h-atom donation scavenges ros (rate constants 10โถ-10โน mโปยนsโปยน); terpenoids inhibit iฮบb kinase blocking nf-ฮบb; flavonoids compete at cox-1/2; alkaloids modulate specific receptor targets for additional bioactivity.
Typically Found In: Botanical skin care
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ antioxidant
Secondary Functions: Free radical scavenging,anti-aging
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ10%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional
Halal Status: Conditional
Source Notes: Plant-derived extract or synthetic.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; well-tolerated.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Vitamin c,vitamin e,ferulic acid,spf,other antioxidants
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Standardise to marker compound for consistent bioactivity โ field-grown material varies 3-10ร in secondary metabolite content.
Last Verified: Cosing database,bambusa arundinacea stem extract botanical extract review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-22
Benzophenone-4
Common Name(s): Benzophenone-4
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Absorbs or reflects uv radiation, preventing uv-induced dna damage, photo-oxidative stress, and premature skin aging.
Why It's Used: Uv filters are the active ingredients in sun protection โ without them, formulations cannot make spf claims or prevent solar-induced skin damage.
How It Works: The uv-absorbing chromophore undergoes photoexcitation by uv photons, then dissipates the absorbed energy through thermal relaxation (chemical filters) or photon scattering/reflection (physical filters), preventing photon penetration to skin cells.
Typically Found In: Sunscreens,moisturizers with spf,foundations with spf
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Uv filters
Secondary Functions: Skin-protecting
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.5โ25% (within regulatory limits)
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Synthetic uv filter; no animal components.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1
Comedogenicity Rating: 0
Sensitivity Concerns: Contact allergy to uv filters occurs in approximately 1โ3% of the general population; patch testing recommended for those with known photosensitivity.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Regulatory approval required per market (eu annex vi, fda otc monograph, etc.). generally non-irritating at approved concentrations.
Works Well With: Other uv filters,antioxidants,emollients
Avoid Combining With: Incompatible filter combinations (photodegradation); check regulatory approvals per region
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Uv filters operate through two mechanisms: organic/chemical filters absorb uv photons through electronic excitation (ฯโฯ* transitions in conjugated systems), then dissipate energy via thermal relaxation; inorganic/physical filters (tio2, zno) scatter and reflect photons through mie scattering (particle size 50โ300 nm) and band gap absorption. spf is measured in vivo (iso 24444) as the ratio of minimal erythema doses with and without sunscreen.
Last Verified: Cosing eu database; pcpc cosmetic ingredient safety reviews; eu cosmetics regulation annex vi; iso 24444 (in vivo spf testing)
Primary Sources: 2025-01-15
Citric Acid
Common Name(s): Lemon acid,2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid
CAS Number: 77-92-9
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Adjusts ph to optimal ranges, chelates destabilizing metal ions, provides mild exfoliation at higher concentrations.
Why It's Used: Universal cosmetic ph adjuster and chelating agent. aha exfoliant activity is secondary.
How It Works: As ph adjuster, donates protons. as chelating agent, three carboxylic groups bind divalent metals (caยฒโบ, mgยฒโบ, feยฒโบ) preventing oxidative degradation.
Typically Found In: Nearly all cosmetic formulations,brightening products,exfoliants
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ alpha hydroxy acid (aha)
Secondary Functions: Chelating agent,ph adjustment,preservation enhancement
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ10%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ synthetic or fermentation-derived
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Produced by fermentation of sugars by aspergillus niger. gras (e330). most abundant organic acid in citrus.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low at low concentrations; 2/5 at exfoliant concentrations
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Photosensitizing โ mandatory spf use. start at low frequency.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Use with caution โ spf required
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Safe at otc concentrations. eu: โค10% leave-on at ph โฅ3.5. mandatory spf advisory.
Works Well With: Niacinamide,ceramides,hyaluronic acid,spf
Avoid Combining With: Retinol in same step; multiple exfoliants simultaneously
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Three carboxylic acid groups provide multiple proton donation sites and stronger chelation than monocarboxylic ahas. this makes citric acid the preferred cosmetic chelating agent alongside edta.
Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment,ewg skin deep
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12