Purifying Pads with 2% Salicylic Acid

A beta hydroxy acid used to smooth texture and clear pores. Safe at cosmetic levels; can be mildly irritating if overused.

The base most products are built on. It carries the other ingredients and has no safety concern.

A corn-derived solvent and humectant that has largely replaced propylene glycol in "clean" formulas; CIR reviewed the alkane diol group and found use concentrations up to about 40 percent in leave-on products like deodorant sticks with no meaningful irritation signal.

A foaming cleansing agent from the same sulfate family as sodium lauryl and laureth sulfate. Like its relatives it can be drying or irritating at high concentration or with prolonged contact, especially on already-compromised skin, but at the levels and rinse-off use typical of shampoos and body washes it is considered safe.

A humectant naturally derived from sugar beets that helps skin draw in and hold water; it has a long history of safe use with no meaningful irritation or sensitization concerns.

A natural component of skin's own moisturizing system, used at low percentages as a humectant and at higher percentages (10 percent plus) as a mild keratolytic for very dry or rough skin. It can sting broken or eczema-prone skin, especially at higher concentrations.

A soothing humectant that helps skin and hair look conditioned. Very well tolerated.

Sodium PCA is a natural component of skin's own moisturizing factor and is used in cosmetics as a humectant to help skin hold onto water. It has an extensive history of safe use with no meaningful irritation or sensitization signal.

A soothing, skin-conditioning compound (also found in comfrey root) commonly added to calm and hydrate irritated or sensitive skin. It has a long history of safe use with very low irritation potential.

A polymer of quaternary ammonium compounds widely used as a conditioning and antistatic agent in hair products. It is well established in cosmetic formulations with a strong safety record in rinse-off applications.

A strong alkali used in tiny amounts to adjust the pH of cosmetics to safe, skin-friendly levels. At the pH found in finished products, sodium hydroxide is neutralized and well tolerated.

Caprylyl glycol is a plant-derived humectant that also has mild antimicrobial properties, so it is commonly paired with other preservatives to allow lower overall preservative levels. Available data do not point to meaningful irritation or sensitization concerns at typical use levels.

A small glycol used as a solvent and to boost the absorption of actives, and to help preservatives work at lower levels. It is well tolerated and graded low concern in published assessments.

The sodium salt of benzoic acid, used as a preservative in both foods and cosmetics. Decades of safety review support its use at typical cosmetic concentrations, with mild irritation the main reported issue in sensitive skin.

An essential oil from grapefruit peel rich in limonene and other furocoumarins. It is a fragrance allergen that carries phototoxicity risk, particularly in sun-exposed areas; some formulations concentrate enough to cause phototoxic reactions in sensitive individuals.

An antioxidant that helps protect a formula and condition skin. Well tolerated.

Used in tiny amounts to set a product to skin-friendly pH. No concern at those levels.

A citrus-scented fragrance component. Fine for most, but it oxidizes over time into a known contact allergen, so it must be labelled in the EU.