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May Island 7 Days Secret Royal Black Sugar Scrub
May Island

May Island 7 Days Secret Royal Black Sugar Scrub

Efficacy37/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing
Glycerin, Helianthus annuus seed oil + 8 more
Works
What the product description says
“Contains chamomile and royal jelly extracts moisturize and soothe sensitive skin.”
Source: Yesstyle

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, honey extract.

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: beeswax, helianthus annuus seed oil.

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~3.7–5.5%
Helianthus annuus seed oilKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function~1.8–2.8%
Cetearyl alcoholKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture~1.5–2.2%
BeeswaxKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighForms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen~1.2–1.8%
Honey extractKey active· HumectantEffect: MediumHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.1–0.4%
Royal jelly extractKey active· HumectantEffect: MediumA compound secreted by bees. Might be able to attract water to the top layer of the skin. Avoid if sensitive to honey and bee products~0.05–0.25%
Butylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowUsed to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin~2.8–4.3%
Hydrogenated polydecene· EmollientEffect: LowHelps to soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture~2.2–3.2%
Glyceryl stearate· EmollientEffect: LowAn emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together~1.2–1.9%
Stearic acid· EmollientEffect: LowHelps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient~0.95–1.4%
Exfoliation
No ingredient credited for this claim
Not delivered
What the product description says
“A mild scrub that exfoliates your skin with 565,500ppm black sugar to clean away skin impurities and dead skin cells.”
Source: Yesstyle

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 5 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Chamomilla recutita flower extractPlant extract that can have healing and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a potential allergen and can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.3%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.05–0.2%est.
Polysorbate 60Helps oil and water mix togetherMedium~0.5–1.2%est.
Honey extractHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skinMedium~0.1–0.4%est.
Royal jelly extractA compound secreted by bees. Might be able to attract water to the top layer of the skin. Avoid if sensitive to honey and bee productsMedium~0.05–0.25%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 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
Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture2/5~1.5–2.2%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Black strap powder~23–34%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Black strap powder
Glycerin~3.7–5.5%
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
Water~4.1–6.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Butylene glycol~2.8–4.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Butylene glycol
Hydrogenated polydecene~2.2–3.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture

More about Hydrogenated polydecene
Helianthus annuus seed oil~1.8–2.8%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function

More about Helianthus annuus seed oil
Cetearyl alcohol~1.5–2.2%
Key activeComedogenic 2/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture

More about Cetearyl alcohol
Glyceryl stearate~1.2–1.9%
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
Beeswax~1.2–1.8%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Forms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen

More about Beeswax
Stearic acid~0.95–1.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient

More about Stearic acid
Polysorbate 60~0.5–1.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Polysorbate 60
Polysorbate 80~0.45–1.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

More about Polysorbate 80
Peg-100 stearate~0.5–1.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture

More about Peg-100 stearate
Phenoxyethanol~0.2–0.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Propylparaben~0.2–0.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative

More about Propylparaben
Xanthan gum~0.15–0.55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum
Honey extract~0.1–0.4%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Honey extract
Chamomilla recutita flower extract~0.1–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-inflammatory

Plant extract that can have healing and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a potential allergen and can be irritating

More about Chamomilla recutita flower extract
Royal jelly extract~0.05–0.25%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

A compound secreted by bees. Might be able to attract water to the top layer of the skin. Avoid if sensitive to honey and bee products

More about Royal jelly extract
Parfum~0.05–0.2%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Ingredient list view

Black strap powder, Glycerin, Water, Butylene glycol, Hydrogenated polydecene, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Cetearyl alcohol, Glyceryl stearate, Beeswax, Stearic acid, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 80, Peg-100 stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Propylparaben, Xanthan gum, Honey extract, Chamomilla recutita flower extract, Royal jelly extract, Parfum

Compare prices

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Yesstyle
$11.40 Out of stock
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Amazon USPrice as of 11/13 12:06 GMT
$16.00
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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
May Island7 Days Secret Royal Black Sugar ScrubYOUR PRODUCTMizonHoney Black Sugar ScrubinnisfreeCollagen Tea Ceramide Bounce CreamGLOSSYBOXExfoliating Clay Scrub
Match—35%33%32%
Price$16.00$12.03−$3.97$32.71+$16.71$13.05−$2.95
Shared key ingredients—2 of 32 of 32 of 3
Key difference—Butyrospermum Parkii ButterNiacinamideGlycolic Acid
Irritancy Medium Medium Medium Medium
Drying alcohol————
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Product summary

"May Island - 7 Days Secret Royal Black Sugar Scrub" could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.

Ingredient callouts

  • Humectants (glycerin 3.70% - 5.50%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.

Price

The product retails for 11.40$ in the United States.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 6 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Safety Assessment of Polyene Group as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
  3. 3
    Effect of Olive and Sunflower Seed Oil on the Adult Skin Barrier: Implications for Neonatal Skin Careonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  4. 4
    Topically Applied Sunflower Seed Oil Prevents Invasive Bacterial Infections in Preterm Infants in Egyptjournals.lww.com
  5. 5
    Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skinonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  6. 6
    Impact of topical oils on the skin barrier: possible implications for neonatal health in developing countriesonlinelibrary.wiley.com
May Island 7 Days Secret Royal Black Sugar Scrub
May Island7 Days Secret Royal Black Sugar Scrub
Buy on Amazon$16.00 · as of 11/13 12:06 GMT

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

Buy on Amazon$16.00 · as of 11/13 12:06 GMT

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.