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M.A.C Cosmetics Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator
M.A.C Cosmetics

M.A.C Cosmetics Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator

Efficacy37/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing
Sucrose, Methyl gluceth-20 + 1 more
Works
What the product description says
“Skin is left refreshed, nourished, smooth and soft.”
Source: Lookfantastic

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": sucrose, methyl gluceth-20.

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. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).

SucroseKey active· HumectantEffect: HighCan help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In crystal form, it can work as a gentle exfoliant, gentler than the salt scrub. Helps stabilize the emulsion~26–40%
Methyl gluceth-20Key active· HumectantEffect: MediumHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and soften it~1.7–2.6%
Caprylyl glycol· Humectant, EmollientEffect: LowHelps preserve products and creates a nice product texture~1–1.6%
Exfoliation
No ingredient credited for this claim
Not delivered
What the product description says
“Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator”
From product name

This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
1 strong irritant: Parfum
Medium risk
We flagged 8 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.1–0.45%est.
Sodium lauroyl lactylateHelps water and oil mix togetherMedium~8.8–13.1%est.
Lauramidopropyl betaine—Medium~4.3–6.4%est.
Peg-7 glyceryl cocoateHelps oils and water mix together and works as a cleansing agentMedium~1.3–1.9%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~1–1.6%est.
Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~1–1.6%est.
Hexylene glycolHelps create a more spreadable product textureMedium~0.4–0.9%est.
Sodium cocoyl glutamateHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~0.35–0.85%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Sucrose~26–40%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In crystal form, it can work as a gentle exfoliant, gentler than the salt scrub. Helps stabilize the emulsion

More about Sucrose
Sodium lauroyl lactylate~8.8–13.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

More about Sodium lauroyl lactylate
Disodium coco-glucoside sulfosuccinate~4.2–6.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Disodium coco-glucoside sulfosuccinate
Lauramidopropyl betaine~4.3–6.4%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing
More about Lauramidopropyl betaine
Volcanic ash~2.3–3.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Volcanic ash
Methyl gluceth-20~1.7–2.6%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and soften it

More about Methyl gluceth-20
Peg-7 glyceryl cocoate~1.3–1.9%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oils and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent

More about Peg-7 glyceryl cocoate
Ethylhexylglycerin~1–1.6%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Caprylyl glycol~1–1.6%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol
Hexylene glycol~0.4–0.9%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps create a more spreadable product texture

More about Hexylene glycol
Sodium cocoyl glutamate~0.35–0.85%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Sodium cocoyl glutamate
Parfum~0.1–0.45%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Phenoxyethanol~0.05–0.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Iron oxides~0.05–0.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Sun protection

An umbrella term for the following three colorants: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499. They might be able to offer some protection against visible light, but the degree of the protection is not clear

More about Iron oxides
Ingredient list view

Sucrose, Sodium lauroyl lactylate, Disodium coco-glucoside sulfosuccinate, Lauramidopropyl betaine, Volcanic ash, Methyl gluceth-20, Peg-7 glyceryl cocoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl glycol, Hexylene glycol, Sodium cocoyl glutamate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Iron oxides

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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
M.A.C CosmeticsMineralize Volcanic Ash ExfoliatorYOUR PRODUCTPour Moi SkincareClarifying PolishEthiqueGingersnap Gentle Solid Face ScrubMizonHoney Black Sugar Scrub
Match—32%30%28%
Price——$13.54$12.03
Shared key ingredients—1 of 11 of 11 of 1
Key difference—Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride—Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Irritancy Medium Low Low Medium
Drying alcohol————
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Product summary

"MAC - Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator" could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.

Ingredient callouts

  • Humectants (sucrose 26.00% - 40.00%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.

Price

The product retails for 28.00£ in the United Kingdom.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 2 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Safety Assessment of Amino Acid Alkyl Amides as Used in Cosmeticsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Irritant and sensitizing potential of eight surfactants commonly used in skin cleansers: an evaluation of 105 patientsjournals.lww.com
M.A.C Cosmetics Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator
M.A.C CosmeticsMineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator
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As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.