Hyaluronic Acid Low-pH Cleansing Foam

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

A coconut-derived mild surfactant best known as the main cleansing agent in syndet ("soap-free") bars and gentle body washes. It has a good tolerability record and is often chosen specifically for sensitive or eczema-prone skin.

A humectant that draws water into the skin. One of the best-studied, best-tolerated ingredients in personal care.

A gentle amino acid-based surfactant derived from coconut oil, used as a primary cleanser in many sulfate-free shampoos and body washes. It is well tolerated and designed to reduce irritation common to harsher sulfonated surfactants.

A wax-like ester of ethylene glycol and stearic acid used purely to thicken shampoo/conditioner and give it a pearly opaque look; it has no cleansing or active role. CIR found it non-sensitizing and non-irritating even at high test concentrations, and decades of manufacturer exposure data show no reported health effects.

A widely used, gentle preservative also common in food. It is generally well tolerated, though it can occasionally cause mild, transient irritation in people with already-compromised or very reactive skin.

A humectant that holds water at the skin surface for a more hydrated look. No safety concern.

A broken-down form of hyaluronic acid with smaller molecules intended to penetrate more deeply into the skin. It functions as a humectant and is well tolerated, with the same safety profile as standard hyaluronic acid.

A quaternized derivative of hyaluronic acid that combines hydration and film-forming benefits for enhanced moisturizing effects. It is documented in cosmetic use as well tolerated, though people sensitive to quaternary ammonium compounds may want to perform a patch test.

A chemically cross-linked form of sodium hyaluronate designed to remain on the skin surface longer and provide sustained hydration. It functions as a humectant and is well tolerated, with the same safety profile as standard hyaluronic acid.

A chemically modified form of hyaluronic acid that improves stability and penetration in skincare formulations. Clinical assessments show it hydrates skin effectively and is well tolerated across sensitive and normal skin types.

A lower molecular weight version of hyaluronic acid designed for better skin penetration. It has been extensively studied and shown to support skin hydration and barrier function with excellent tolerability in diverse formulations and skin types.

A lightweight humectant and solvent similar in role to propylene glycol, used to carry actives and give lotions a lighter feel. CIR has reviewed it and considers it safe as used in cosmetics.

A plant extract long used in traditional wound care and now common in "cica" soothing products, valued for calming redness and supporting the skin barrier. It is generally well tolerated, with rare contact allergy reported.

A glycol used very widely in Korean and Western skincare as a lightweight humectant, solvent, and gentle preservative-booster, often in place of traditional preservatives. It has a low reported irritation rate at use levels and is graded low concern in published assessments.

The simplest amino acid, naturally present in skin and collagen, commonly used as a humectant to help retain moisture. It has a long history of safe use in cosmetics with no known hazards at typical concentrations.

A naturally occurring amino acid that is a key component of skin barrier lipids and the natural moisturizing factor. It binds water to the skin and is well established as a safe hydrating ingredient with no known sensitization concerns.

A triterpenoid from Centella asiatica with published research linking it to skin barrier function and calming effects. It appears well tolerated at cosmetic levels.

A non-essential amino acid that occurs naturally in skin and is used in cosmetics as a humectant and skin-conditioning agent. It has an established safety record with no reported concerns at typical usage levels.

A basic amino acid naturally found in skin that draws moisture into the stratum corneum. It is well tolerated in cosmetics at typical concentrations and has been used safely in skincare formulations for decades.

An amino acid abundant in collagen that functions as a humectant to draw moisture into the skin. It is well tolerated in skincare products and assessed as safe for cosmetic use at standard formulation levels.

An essential amino acid that is a component of the skin barrier and natural moisturizing factor, used in cosmetics to improve hydration. It is well tolerated and assessed as safe for topical application.

A salt form of glycyrrhizic acid, a compound from licorice root prized for soothing irritated skin. It is well tolerated at cosmetic levels and has a long history of use in skincare formulations.

A polysaccharide extracted from yeast cell walls or oat bran. Used for hydration and skin conditioning, beta-glucan is well tolerated with emerging evidence for supporting skin barrier function. No safety concerns flagged in cosmetic use.

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

A lab-made version of a lipid naturally found in the outer skin barrier. It is added to creams and cleansers to help replace lipids that washing can strip away, and it is not linked to irritation or safety concerns.

A phospholipid emulsifier from soy or sunflower that binds water and oil and helps other ingredients absorb. It is a natural component of skin membranes, well tolerated, and reviewed as safe as used; a soy-derived grade is not a meaningful concern for a soy food allergy because the protein is largely absent.

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 water or bran extract of rice containing ferulic acid, small peptides and starches. It is a traditional East Asian skincare staple with some supporting antioxidant and mild-brightening data, but most of that evidence comes from cell or animal studies rather than large human trials, so the "brightening" claims on finished products go further than the direct evidence.

Pentylene glycol is a humectant and solvent that also offers mild antimicrobial support in formulas. It is generally well tolerated, with only rare reports of irritation, mostly in already sensitive or compromised skin.

Ordinary salt, used in surfactant-based products like shampoos and body washes to adjust viscosity by interacting with the surfactant micelles. It has no meaningful toxicity concern at cosmetic use levels; the main practical downside is that too much can make a formula feel less mild.

A preservative and antioxidant that helps prevent microbial growth and oxidative degradation in formulas. Published assessments support its use at cosmetic levels.

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

A chelating agent that binds trace metal ions to keep formulas stable and preservatives working properly. It is not a functional skincare "active" and only a very small amount is used, with minimal skin penetration expected.

This small glycol is used to thin out formulas and help preservatives work better, similar in role to propylene glycol and butylene glycol already in wide use. Industry and EU safety reviewers have set purity and concentration conditions for its use rather than restricting it outright, and no consumer-relevant hazard has been established at typical cosmetic levels.

A glycerin derivative used as a skin conditioner and preservative booster, often paired with phenoxyethanol to allow lower total preservative levels. It has a low irritation and sensitization profile in safety reviews.