ESPA Essential Cleansing Mask

ESPA Essential Cleansing Mask

Efficacy75/100IrritancyHigh

Works for

Moisturizing
Cocos nucifera oil, Cetyl alcohol + 4 more
Works
What the product description says
“A deeply cleansing, mineral-rich clay mask that helps purify and balance excess oils, while hydrating and calming skin.”
Source: Espa

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job: glycerin.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: cocos nucifera oil, glycine soja oil.

Cocos nucifera oilKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic~3.8–5.7%
Cetyl alcoholKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumA non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together~2.2–3.4%
Glycine soja oilKey active· EmollientEffect: HighA good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.~1.7–2.5%
GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~1.2–1.8%
Glyceryl stearate· EmollientEffect: LowAn emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together~2.1–3.1%
Rosa damascena flower waterEffect: Low, below effective doseUsed to add a nice rose smell to the product. Might help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and have some anti-oxidant effect. Can be irritating~0.95–1.45%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
5 strong irritants: Rosa damascena flower water, Pelargonium graveolens flower oil + 3 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 11 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Rosa damascena flower waterUsed to add a nice rose smell to the product. Might help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and have some anti-oxidant effect. Can be irritatingHigh~0.95–1.45%est.
Pelargonium graveolens flower oilAn essential oil. Can be irritating. Can become an allergen with oxidationHigh~0.35–0.85%est.
CitronellolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.55%est.
GeraniolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.4%est.
LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.3%est.
Glycine soja oilA good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.Medium~1.7–2.5%est.
Polysorbate 60Helps oil and water mix togetherMedium~1.4–2.1%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~0.2–0.8%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.05–0.2%est.
Benzoic acidA preservativeMedium~0.05–0.25%est.
Dehydroacetic acidA preservativeMedium~0.05–0.2%est.
Comedogenic
2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
2 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Cocos nucifera oilAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic3/5~3.8–5.7%est.
Glycine soja oilA good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.2/5~1.7–2.5%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Kaolin~5.3–8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MattifyingAnti-blemish

A type of clay that consists mainly of aluminum silicate. Helps absorb oil and creates a thicker product consistency. Can be used to add a white color

More about Kaolin
Cocos nucifera oil~3.8–5.7%
Key activeComedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic

More about Cocos nucifera oil
Cetyl alcohol~2.2–3.4%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together

More about Cetyl alcohol
Glyceryl stearate~2.1–3.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together

More about Glyceryl stearate
Glycine soja oil~1.7–2.5%
Key activeComedogenic 2/5Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
Moisturizing

A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.

More about Glycine soja oil
Polysorbate 60~1.4–2.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Polysorbate 60
Glycerin~1.2–1.8%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Rosa damascena flower water~0.95–1.45%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidation

Used to add a nice rose smell to the product. Might help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and have some anti-oxidant effect. Can be irritating

More about Rosa damascena flower water
Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Styrax benzoin gum~0.55–1.25%
Formula
Sorbitan stearate~0.4–0.95%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

More about Sorbitan stearate
Pelargonium graveolens flower oil~0.35–0.85%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-oxidation

An essential oil. Can be irritating. Can become an allergen with oxidation

More about Pelargonium graveolens flower oil
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.2–0.8%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Citronellol~0.15–0.55%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Citronellol
Geraniol~0.1–0.4%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Geraniol
Linalool~0.1–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Linalool
Citric acid~0.05–0.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH

More about Citric acid
Benzoic acid~0.05–0.25%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Benzoic acid
Dehydroacetic acid~0.05–0.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Dehydroacetic acid
Ingredient list view

Water, Kaolin, Cocos nucifera oil, Cetyl alcohol, Glyceryl stearate, Glycine soja oil, Polysorbate 60, Glycerin, Rosa damascena flower water, Phenoxyethanol, Styrax benzoin gum, Sorbitan stearate, Pelargonium graveolens flower oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool, Citric acid, Benzoic acid, Dehydroacetic acid

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
ESPAEssential Cleansing MaskYOUR PRODUCTHolland & BarrettVitamin E maskThe INKEY List CAKaolin Clay Face Maskfrank bodyGlow Mask
Match—42%42%41%
Price——$6.75$6.64
Shared key ingredients—3 of 43 of 44 of 4
Key difference—Retinyl PalmitatePanthenolButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Irritancy High Medium Medium Medium
Drying alcohol————
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