sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Water Ex

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Water
2. Alcohol
3. Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
4. Butylene Glycol
5. Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
6. Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
7. Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
8. Glycerin
9. Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract
10. Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
11. Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
12. Lilium Tigrinum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
13. Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
14. Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract
15. Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
16. Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
17. Adenophora Stricta Root Extract
18. Lycium Chinense Root Extract
19. Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
20. Angelica Tenuissima Root Extract
21. Honey
22. Portulaca Oleracea Extract
23. Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
24. Beta-Glucan
25. Natto Gum
26. Sodium Hyaluronate
27. Betaine
28. Panthenol
29. Biosaccharide Gum-1
30. Glycereth-26
31. Propanediol
32. Ethylhexylglycerin
33. Phenyl Trimethicone
34. Peg/Ppg-17/6 Copolymer
35. Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
36. Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
37. Potassium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
38. Disodium Edta
39. Phenoxyethanol
40. Fragrance

Highlights

Free of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains alcoholContains essential oilsContains fragranceContains animal-derivedContains PEGContains siliconesContains EU-26 allergens

Formulation view Core sophora extract blended with tea, licorice, and various botanical roots, supported by glycerin and beta-glucan. Silicones and PEG copolymers adjust texture. Preserved with phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin. Suitable for combination or mildly sensitive skin needing soothing. Factory note: High extract diversity challenges supply chain stability; silicones provide slip but allergen labeling is critical.

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

ANTIFOAMING

Alcohol

SKIN CONDITIONING

Ophiopogon Japonicus Root ExtractGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract

HUMECTANT

Butylene Glycol

VISCOSITY CONTROLLING

Glyceryl Polymethacrylate

ANTIMICROBIAL

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

DENATURANT

Glycerin

Other ingredients

Nelumbo Nucifera Seed ExtractPaeonia Albiflora Root ExtractPolygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root ExtractLilium Tigrinum Flower/Leaf/Stem ExtractRehmannia Glutinosa Root ExtractChrysanthemum Morifolium Flower ExtractPaeonia Suffruticosa Root ExtractCitrus Unshiu Peel ExtractAdenophora Stricta Root ExtractLycium Chinense Root ExtractCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed ExtractAngelica Tenuissima Root ExtractHoneyPortulaca Oleracea ExtractAstragalus Membranaceus Root ExtractBeta-GlucanNatto GumSodium HyaluronateBetainePanthenolBiosaccharide Gum-1Glycereth-26PropanediolEthylhexylglycerinPhenyl TrimethiconePeg/Ppg-17/6 CopolymerPeg-60 Hydrogenated Castor OilBis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl SilanePotassium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerDisodium EdtaPhenoxyethanolFragrance

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth

Alcohol

Ethanol for solubility/drying at 5-15%; high conc. is drying/irritating, avoid lip/eye, low residue, balance with humectants.

Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract

Botanical humectant; soothing; requires preservative; high-concentration allergen risk.

Butylene Glycol

Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel

Glyceryl Polymethacrylate

Acrylate polymer for high viscosity, film formation, and conditioning feel. Synthetic polymer, low irritancy.

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Green tea extract for antioxidant/astringent; contains caffeine, possible irritation in sensitive skin.

Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract

Licorice root; anti-inflammatory/whitening, contains glycyrrhizin, caution for pollen-allergic individuals.

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract

Lotus seed extract, multi-functional; antimicrobial activity, plant source requires preservation, low allergen

Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract

Peony root extract for moisture and conditioning; plant-derived, low allergenicity

Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract

Botanical extract used as a skin conditioning agent

Lilium Tigrinum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Lilium tigrinum extract; skin conditioning, contains saponins, patch test for high conc.

Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract

Traditional medicinal root extract for skin conditioning; verify compatibility, patch test for sensitive skin.

Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract

Chrysanthemum extract, 0.1-0.5% typical; low sensitization, avoid in chrysanthemum-allergic individuals

Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract

Paeonia root extract, skin protecting agent with antioxidants to defend against environmental damage

Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract

Citrus peel extract providing fragrance

Adenophora Stricta Root Extract

Not decoded yet

Lycium Chinense Root Extract

Not decoded yet

Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract

Job's tear seed extract; traditionally used for skin conditioning and reducing roughness, containing sterols and polysaccharides.

Angelica Tenuissima Root Extract

Not decoded yet

Honey

Humectant/emollient; contains sugars requiring preservation, contraindicated for bee product allergies.

Portulaca Oleracea Extract

Achyronica extract with anti-inflammatory properties; monitor for heavy metals and pesticides, low-risk at typical doses

Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract

Astragalus root extract for antioxidant and barrier-support conditioning

Beta-Glucan

Polysaccharide for soothing and hydration; high MW acts on the surface, poor penetration into deep dermis.

Natto Gum

Natto gum, film-forming; 0.1–0.5% typical, low irritation, low sensitization

Sodium Hyaluronate

Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture

Betaine

Betaine for mild moisturizing/surfactant; low concentration 1-2% common, high may irritate.

Panthenol

Panthenol (vitamin B5) at 1–5%; moisturizing and reparative, supports barrier recovery

Biosaccharide Gum-1

Biosaccharide Gum-1, fermented colloid for hydration and soothing, low comedogenic.

Glycereth-26

Glycereth-26, humectant/viscosity modifier at 1–5%; non-ionic water-soluble, boosts stability and feel.

Propanediol

Polyol solvent at 1–5%; light feel, aids solubilization, propylene glycol alternative

Ethylhexylglycerin

Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel

Phenyl Trimethicone

Aromatic modified silicone for high gloss and occlusion; inert, non-volatile, may leave surface residue

Peg/Ppg-17/6 Copolymer

Non-ionic copolymer used as a solvent and emulsifier aid; PEG component may increase penetration

Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer at 1–5%; contains PEG, check acid compatibility and sensitive skin irritation

Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane

Silicone modifier for smoothness; contains PEG, used for foam and cleansing, manage PEG residuals

Potassium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Not decoded yet

Disodium Edta

Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Fragrance

Fragrance; concentration must control allergen risk, label specific components

Related products in this category

• cosrx COSRX Balancium B5 D-Panthenol Cream
• missha Missha Glow Skin Balm
• laneige LANEIGE Essential Power Skin Refiner - Light
• cosrx COSRX Pure Fit Cica Cream Intense
• missha Missha Vita C Plus Brightening Toner
• missha Missha Super Aqua Ultra Hyalron Emulsion