LA MER The Cleansing Gel

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. Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine
3. Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
4. Coco-betaine
5. Sodium Laureth Sulfate
6. Sodium chloride
7. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
8. Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
9. Algae Extract
10. Sesamum indicum Seed Oil
11. Medicago Sativa Seed Powder
12. Helianthus Annuus Seedcake
13. Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
14. Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
15. Sodium gluconate
16. Copper gluconate
17. Calcium gluconate
18. Magnesium gluconate
19. Zinc Gluconate
20. Tocopheryl succinate
21. Niacin
22. Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder
23. Butylene Glycol
24. Sucrose
25. Caprylyl Glycol
26. Sodium bicarbonate
27. Tourmaline
28. Hexylene Glycol
29. Fragrance
30. EDTA
31. Disodium EDTA
32. Methylchloroisothiazolinone
33. Methylisothiazolinone
34. Phenoxyethanol
35. Alpha-isomethyl ionone
36. Geraniol
37. Butylphenyl Methylpropional
38. Linalool
39. CI 61570
40. Yellow 5

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains sulfatesContains fragranceContains essential oilsContains EU-26 allergens

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

ANTISTATIC

Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaineCoco-betaine

CLEANSING

Sodium Cocoyl SarcosinateSodium Laureth Sulfate

BULKING

Sodium chloride

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

ABRASIVE

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Other ingredients

Algae ExtractSesamum indicum Seed OilMedicago Sativa Seed PowderHelianthus Annuus SeedcakePrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed MealEucalyptus Globulus Leaf OilSodium gluconateCopper gluconateCalcium gluconateMagnesium gluconateZinc GluconateTocopheryl succinateNiacinSesamum Indicum Seed PowderButylene GlycolSucroseCaprylyl GlycolSodium bicarbonateTourmalineHexylene GlycolFragranceEDTADisodium EDTAMethylchloroisothiazolinoneMethylisothiazolinonePhenoxyethanolAlpha-isomethyl iononeGeraniolButylphenyl MethylpropionalLinaloolCI 61570Yellow 5

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

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

Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine

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

Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate

Betaine-based anionic surfactant with mild cleansing and fine foam; common in amino acid cleansers

Coco-betaine

Mild amphoteric cleanser, good foam; may precipitate with cationics, control dose for low irritation

Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Common anionic surfactant, strong foam but drying; check cationic compatibility, high eye irritation

Sodium chloride

Salt for gel viscosity control; used as precipitant in soaps

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Aloe vera leaf extract for soothing and humectant; monitor polysaccharide level and endotoxins

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Antioxidant and soothing extract; mild abrasive properties, common in conditioning formulas

Algae Extract

Algae extract with humectant and conditioning effects; may contain natural fragrant components.

Sesamum indicum Seed Oil

Sesame seed oil for skin and hair conditioning, natural fragrance; prone to oxidation, keep dark

Medicago Sativa Seed Powder

Not decoded yet

Helianthus Annuus Seedcake

Sunflower seed cake; physical exfoliant and bulking agent. Coarse texture, use caution for sensitive skin, requires homogenization.

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal

Sweet almond seed meal for physical exfoliation; ensure moderate particle size to avoid scratching sensitive skin; may contain trace allergenic proteins.

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

Eucalyptus leaf oil, strong essential oil; high irritation, strictly limited usage

Sodium gluconate

Mild chelator, aids skin conditioning; typically used at low levels as auxiliary

Copper gluconate

Copper gluconate; trace antioxidant/repair agent. Use <0.05%; high levels cause color change/irritation.

Calcium gluconate

Chelator and conditioner, improves stability; water-soluble calcium source

Magnesium gluconate

Water-soluble magnesium source; balances skin pH, low irritation; use 0.5–2%

Zinc Gluconate

Chelated zinc salt with antimicrobial and deodorizing effects; used in antiperspirants and oral care; has EU concentration limit.

Tocopheryl succinate

Water-soluble vitamin E derivative, antioxidant for formula stability; low-level use, low sensitization risk

Niacin

Niacin (B3) smoother; high topological concentrations may cause flushing, often used as co-agent or precursor.

Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder

Not decoded yet

Butylene Glycol

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

Sucrose

Sucrose, water-soluble thickener and humectant; high levels prone to hygroscopy.

Caprylyl Glycol

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

Sodium bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate; buffer and deodorant; alkaline at high pH, potential irritation, control dosage

Tourmaline

Tourmaline mineral powder for viscosity control or tactile modification. Inert and non-irritating; manage dust inhalation risks during manufacturing.

Hexylene Glycol

Polyol solvent and humectant with penetration enhancement; limit concentration to avoid irritation, no specific allergen tag

Fragrance

Fragrance; concentration must control allergen risk, label specific components

EDTA

Chelating agent for stability; use metal salts, keep concentration low (<0.1%) to maintain pH.

Disodium EDTA

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

Methylchloroisothiazolinone

Preservative (MCI); highly sensitizing, use only in rinse-off, avoid leave-on products.

Methylisothiazolinone

Strong preservative; high allergy risk, EU restricted for leave-on products, high formulation risk

Phenoxyethanol

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

Alpha-isomethyl ionone

Vanilla-like fragrance ingredient; one of EU 26 allergens, caution advised for sensitive skin.

Geraniol

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

Butylphenyl Methylpropional

Synthetic fragrance with floral notes; EU regulations limit usage, strict monitoring required.

Linalool

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

CI 61570

Synthetic dye, used in food/drugs; restricted in cosmetics, compliance labeling required.

Yellow 5

Synthetic dye for color; known allergen, may irritate sensitive skin.