Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Cleanser
Why this score
Concern53 / 55
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: watch if sensitive
How much genuine, cited concern the ingredients carry, weighted by how much of each is likely present and whether the product stays on or rinses off.
Transparency20 / 20
- No hidden fragrance blend.
Whether the full ingredient list, and any fragrance, are actually disclosed.
Formulation restraint23 / 25
- 2 known irritant or fragrance-allergen ingredients: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate.
Needless irritant or allergen load for the product type. A clean, purposeful formula scores well without any "free-from" theater.
Scored by PlainBody Editorial against the PlainScore method · Label checked July 2026
What’s inside
WaterGenerally safe
The base most products are built on. It carries the other ingredients and has no safety concern.
Full ingredient details →GlycerinGenerally safe
A humectant that draws water into the skin. One of the best-studied, best-tolerated ingredients in personal care.
Full ingredient details →Cocamidopropyl HydroxysultaineGenerally safe
An amphoteric (zwitterionic) surfactant derived from coconut oil that works well with other cleansers and is milder than anionic surfactants alone. It is widely used in gentle shampoos and body washes with a good safety profile in cosmetic use.
Full ingredient details →Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateGenerally safe
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.
Full ingredient details →Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateGenerally safe
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.
Full ingredient details →Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidGenerally safe
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.
Full ingredient details →EthylhexylglycerinGenerally safe
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.
Full ingredient details →Polyquaternium-10Generally safe
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.
Full ingredient details →Polysorbate 20Generally safe
A widely used emulsifier and solubilizer that has been in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals for decades. The CIR has assessed it as safe with no known concerns at typical cosmetic concentrations. As with any surfactant, some people with very sensitive skin may experience mild irritation.
Full ingredient details →Sodium Lauryl SulfateWatch if sensitive
A strong foaming cleanser. It can be drying or irritating for some people, especially in leave-on or high-concentration products. It is not a toxin, and it rinses away.
Full ingredient details →Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateWatch if sensitive
A primary cleansing surfactant similar in strength to sodium laureth sulfate, used in many "sulfate-lite" shampoos even though it is itself a sulfonate detergent. CIR concluded it is safe in rinse-off products; it can be drying or irritating for already-sensitized scalps at higher use levels, same as most anionic surfactants.
Full ingredient details →Sodium ChlorideCommonly feared, low concern
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.
Full ingredient details →Propylene GlycolCommonly feared, low concern
A small humectant and solvent molecule that helps other ingredients dissolve and helps skin hold water. It is one of the most studied cosmetic ingredients and is considered safe at the concentrations used in personal care products.
Full ingredient details →Disodium EDTACommonly feared, low concern
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.
Full ingredient details →Citric AcidGenerally safe
Used in tiny amounts to set a product to skin-friendly pH. No concern at those levels.
Full ingredient details →Sodium HydroxideGenerally safe
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.
Full ingredient details →Tocopheryl AcetateCommonly feared, low concern
A more stable, esterified form of vitamin E used as an antioxidant and skin-conditioning ingredient. It is a different substance from the vitamin E acetate implicated in vaping-related lung injury, which involved inhaling the oil, not applying it topically to skin.
Full ingredient details →PhenoxyethanolCommonly feared, low concern
A widely used preservative, safe at the legal limit of 1% or less. Often the "paraben-free" replacement.
Full ingredient details →Lower-concern alternatives
Same category, higher PlainScore.
Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. Concern ratings are evidence-graded and cited on each ingredient page. See how we score.