kevin-murphy Kevin Murphy Balancing Wash

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. Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
3. Glycol Distearate
4. Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
5. Cocamidopropylamine Oxide
6. Panthenol
7. Ascorbic Acid
8. Tocopheryl Acetate
9. Salvia Officinalis Extract*
10. Wheat Amino Acids
11. Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract*
12. Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
13. Superoxide Dismutase
14. Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
15. Urtica Dioica Extract*
16. Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
17. Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
18. Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
19. Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
20. Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
21. Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
22. Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
23. Melanin
24. Lactic Acid
25. Malic Acid
26. Glycerin
27. Decyl Glucoside
28. Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
29. Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
30. Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
31. PEG-4 Rapeseedamide
32. Methyl Gluceth-20
33. Glycereth-26
34. PEG-150 Distearate
35. Polyquaternium-7
36. Polyquaternium-11
37. Polyamide-2
38. Disodium EDTA
39. Butylene Glycol
40. Pentylene Glycol
41. Phenoxyethanol
42. Ethylhexylglycerin
43. Potassium Sorbate
44. Fragrance
45. Linalool
46. Citronellol
47. Benzyl Benzoate
48. Benzyl Salicylate

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains PEGContains EU-26 allergensContains essential oilsContains fragranceContains silicones

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

CLEANSING

Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateCocamidopropylamine Oxide

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Glycol Distearate

ANTISTATIC

Cocamidopropyl HydroxysultainePanthenol

ANTIOXIDANT

Ascorbic AcidTocopheryl Acetate

Other ingredients

Salvia Officinalis Extract*Wheat Amino AcidsCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract*Cananga Odorata Flower OilSuperoxide DismutasePelargonium Graveolens Flower OilUrtica Dioica Extract*Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractHelianthus Annuus Seed ExtractEugenia Caryophyllus Leaf OilHydrolyzed Soy ProteinHydrolyzed Wheat ProteinHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl SilanetriolLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment FiltrateMelaninLactic AcidMalic AcidGlycerinDecyl GlucosideGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideCinnamidopropyltrimonium ChlorideSodium Lauroyl SarcosinatePEG-4 RapeseedamideMethyl Gluceth-20Glycereth-26PEG-150 DistearatePolyquaternium-7Polyquaternium-11Polyamide-2Disodium EDTAButylene GlycolPentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanolEthylhexylglycerinPotassium SorbateFragranceLinaloolCitronellolBenzyl BenzoateBenzyl Salicylate

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

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

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

Mild cleanser with rich lather and low irritation; hygroscopic, requires moisture-resistant packaging

Glycol Distearate

Glycol distearate for thickening and emulsification; non-ionic, improves viscosity

Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine

Mild amino acid amphoteric surfactant for cleansing and foam boosting; low irritation, biodegradable

Cocamidopropylamine Oxide

Cationic/Amphoteric surfactant, foaming/conditioning; allergenic at high levels, blends with anions.

Panthenol

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

Ascorbic Acid

Vitamin C, potent antioxidant requiring acidic environment for stability; oxidizes and discolors easily, needs light and air protection, concentration 1-10%, pure L-ascorbic acid is more irritating.

Tocopheryl Acetate

Vitamin E derivative antioxidant at 0.1–1%; more stable than tocopherol, store protected from light

Salvia Officinalis Extract*

Not decoded yet

Wheat Amino Acids

Wheat amino acids for hair/skin; contains gluten, allergy caution

Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract*

Not decoded yet

Cananga Odorata Flower Oil

Ylang-ylang essential oil, natural fragrance; contains multiple allergens, restrict usage per EU regulations, avoid for sensitive skin

Superoxide Dismutase

Enzymatic antioxidant breaking down superoxide radicals; used as bioactive at low levels, requires strict temperature control to prevent inactivation.

Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil

Aromatic essential oil; contains allergens (citronellol, limonene), requires labeling.

Urtica Dioica Extract*

Not decoded yet

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

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

Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract

Sunflower seed extract; flavonoids and oleic acid, 0.5–5%; antioxidant repair, match phase, low allergenicity

Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil

Clove leaf oil for fragrance and conditioning; irritant risk at high levels, restricted by EU.

Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Hydrolyzed soy protein for hydration and antistatic effect; soy is a common allergen requiring labeling, low comedogenicity.

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Hydrolyzed protein for hair and skin conditioning; potential allergen, use low levels in sensitive products

Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol

Silane-modified polymer for smoothness and wet combing; pair with cationic conditioning agents

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Bio-fermented filtrate for antimicrobial and anti-dandruff effects; assess individual variability, avoid in known allergy.

Melanin

Melanin as pigment or UV absorber; natural colorant, shade depends on purity, used in dark concealers.

Lactic Acid

AHA pH adjuster at 0.5-5%; exfoliation/humectancy, mild at low conc., irritating at high, avoid conflict with alkaline preservatives.

Malic Acid

AHA for pH buffering; mild at low conc, risk at high, control pH & total acidity

Glycerin

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

Decyl Glucoside

Mild alkyl glucoside, biodegradable; foam stabilizer, thickens with fatty alcohols, low allergenicity.

Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride

Cationic guar derivative for antistatic, film-forming, viscosity control; common in hair/skin conditioning

Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride

Cationic surfactant for antistatic and hair conditioning; provides slip, potential sensitivity to cinnamic groups.

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

Mild anionic surfactant for cleansing and emulsification; 1-5%, suitable for sensitive skin

PEG-4 Rapeseedamide

Not decoded yet

Methyl Gluceth-20

Not decoded yet

Glycereth-26

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

PEG-150 Distearate

Non-ionic emulsifier; PEG-based; mild comedogenic risk.

Polyquaternium-7

Not decoded yet

Polyquaternium-11

Not decoded yet

Polyamide-2

Not decoded yet

Disodium EDTA

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

Butylene Glycol

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

Pentylene Glycol

Polyol humectant at 1-3%; low irritancy, suitable for sensitive skin

Phenoxyethanol

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

Ethylhexylglycerin

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

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative effective below pH 6; combinable with sodium benzoate

Fragrance

Fragrance; concentration must control allergen risk, label specific components

Linalool

Natural fragrance component at ≤0.05%; one of EU 26 allergens, caution for sensitive skin

Citronellol

Citronellol for fragrance; EU 26 allergen, labeling required above 0.001%.

Benzyl Benzoate

Chelating agent for stability; restricted substance, not permitted as single component or in mixtures at ≥0.1%.

Benzyl Salicylate

UV absorber/light stabilizer, restricted in EU; potential sensitizer, risk assessment needed.

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