espa Purifying Micellar Cleanser

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. Glycerin
3. Polysorbate 20
4. Xylitylglucoside
5. Phenoxyethanol
6. Anhydroxylitol
7. Coco-Glucoside
8. Sorbitol
9. Rosa Damascena Flower Water
10. Sodium PCA
11. Xylitol
12. Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
13. Benzyl Alcohol
14. Sodium Lactate
15. Ethylhexylglycerin
16. Allantoin
17. Sodium Hyaluronate
18. Hydroxyethylcellulose
19. Limonene
20. Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
21. Cymbopogon Martini Oil
22. Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
23. Geraniol
24. Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
25. Dehydroacetic Acid
26. Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
27. Caprylyl Glycol
28. Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil
29. Linalool
30. Lactic Acid
31. Citronellol
32. Eugenol
33. Citral
34. Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
35. Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil
36. Cocos Nucifera Oil
37. Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil
38. Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
39. Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
40. Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
41. Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
42. Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
43. Glucose
44. Benzoic Acid
45. Citric Acid
46. Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
47. Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
48. Rosa Damascena Flower Oil

Highlights

Free of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains PEGContains fragranceContains alcoholContains EU-26 allergensContains essential oils

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

DENATURANT

Glycerin

SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING

Polysorbate 20

HUMECTANT

XylitylglucosideAnhydroxylitolSorbitol

ANTIMICROBIAL

Phenoxyethanol

CLEANSING

Coco-Glucoside

Other ingredients

Rosa Damascena Flower WaterSodium PCAXylitolHamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig ExtractBenzyl AlcoholSodium LactateEthylhexylglycerinAllantoinSodium HyaluronateHydroxyethylcelluloseLimoneneCitrus Nobilis Peel OilCymbopogon Martini OilPelargonium Graveolens OilGeraniolCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit OilDehydroacetic AcidCananga Odorata Flower OilCaprylyl GlycolEugenia Caryophyllus Bud OilLinaloolLactic AcidCitronellolEugenolCitralCitrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig OilCitrus Aurantium Amara Peel OilCocos Nucifera OilIllicium Verum Fruit/Seed OilLitsea Cubeba Fruit OilPogostemon Cablin Leaf OilRosa Damascena Flower ExtractRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf OilVanilla Planifolia Fruit ExtractGlucoseBenzoic AcidCitric AcidAnthemis Nobilis Flower OilJasminum Officinale Flower ExtractRosa Damascena Flower Oil

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

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

Glycerin

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

Polysorbate 20

Non-ionic emulsifier and cleansing surfactant; contains PEG, control microbial load.

Xylitylglucoside

Polyol humectant with high water absorption and fresh feel; often co-used with propylene glycol for enhanced hydration.

Phenoxyethanol

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

Anhydroxylitol

Anhydrous xylitol, potent humectant; high hygroscopicity may cause stickiness at high levels.

Coco-Glucoside

Mild non-ionic surfactant for cleansing and foaming; rich foam, low irritation, suitable for sensitive and children's products

Sorbitol

Polyol humectant with strong hygroscopy; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives; also a solvent or adjuster.

Rosa Damascena Flower Water

Aromatic hydrosol base; provides scent and conditioning benefits.

Sodium PCA

Sodium PCA, NMF component, 1-10% humectant; salty/tacky at high levels.

Xylitol

Polyol humectant, sweet taste; water-soluble, high hygroscopy, excess draws moisture.

Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract

Astringent and soothing botanical extract for sensitive or pore care, used at low levels.

Benzyl Alcohol

Mild preservative/solvent at 0.5-1.0%; EU allergen (labeling required), irritation risk if concentrated, avoid in infant/highly sensitive skin.

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate for moisturizing and exfoliation; pH buffering agent

Ethylhexylglycerin

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

Allantoin

Skin soother at 0.5-2%; promotes cell regeneration

Sodium Hyaluronate

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

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Water-soluble cellulose ether for thickening and suspension stabilization; sensitive to ions, electrolytes reduce viscosity, use at pH 7-8.

Limonene

Natural fragrance solvent, EU allergen; poor photostability

Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil

Citrus essential oil; photosensitizing furanocoumarins present, limit daytime use; EU 26 allergen.

Cymbopogon Martini Oil

Natural essential oil with distinct aroma; contains allergens requiring safety assessment.

Pelargonium Graveolens Oil

Pelargonium graveolens oil containing citronellol and geraniol; used as perfuming agent, contains labeled allergens requiring compliance checks.

Geraniol

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

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Bergamot essential oil, natural fragrance and photosensitizer; limit daytime use or use FCF grade

Dehydroacetic Acid

Broad-spectrum preservative for acidic and oil-based systems; has concentration limits, requires challenge testing.

Cananga Odorata Flower Oil

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

Caprylyl Glycol

Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol

Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil

Clove bud oil, natural fragrance and antimicrobial; restricted III/356, eugenol allergen risk.

Linalool

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

Lactic Acid

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

Citronellol

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

Eugenol

Potent natural fragrance, EU restriction III/71; listed allergen, max 5%, caution for sensitive skin

Citral

Citral; citrus fragrance component, listed EU allergen, high phototoxicity risk, strict concentration limits apply.

Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil

Bitter orange oil for fragrance/flavor; essential oil with allergens, cautious for photosensitizing areas.

Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil

Essential oil, scent regulator; III/351 allergen, labeling required.

Cocos Nucifera Oil

Occlusive moisturizing oil at 1–10%; highly comedogenic, use with caution for oily skin.

Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil

Star anise oil with anethole; strong fragrance and oral freshener, irritant at high levels.

Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil

Litsaea cubeba fruit oil; distinct aroma, potential irritant; use as essential oil, label fully.

Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil

Vetiver essential oil for woody scent; high concentration has phototoxic risks.

Rosa Damascena Flower Extract

Rose damascena extract, fragrance/tonic; contains allergens (linalool, geraniol, etc.), labeling required in EU.

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil

Rosemary leaf oil for fragrance and conditioning; essential oil, allergen risk, limit usage

Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract

Vanilla extract adds scent and soothing; acts as natural fragrance, dose carefully.

Glucose

Low-MW humectant and buffer; high hygroscopicity requires careful preservation and humidity control.

Benzoic Acid

Preservative and pH adjuster at 0.1–0.5%; low water solubility, best in acidic media, irritant at high levels.

Citric Acid

Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH

Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil

Botanical oil as fragrance and conditioner; contains allergens, dilute and test for sensitization

Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract

Jasmine flower extract for fragrance and conditioning; contains allergens, restricted in leave-on products under EU regulations, label required.

Rosa Damascena Flower Oil

Rose essential oil with strong scent; contains allergens, requires IFRA compliance.

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