the-elements The Elements Purifying Gel Cleanser
the-elements The Elements Purifying Gel Cleanser lists 17 ingredients on its label, 17 decoded. See what each one does, its irritancy and comedogenic tendency, and its status in national inventories.
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.
Highlights
Free of alcoholFree of fragranceFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains sulfates
Key ingredients
- SOLVENT
- AquaPropanediol
- SURFACTANT - CLEANSING
- Sodium Coco-Sulfate
- ANTISTATIC
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- CLEANSING
- Caprylyl/Capryl GlucosideDecyl Glucoside
- DENATURANT
- Glycerin
- BUFFERING
- Citric Acid
Other ingredients
Salicylic AcidLevulinic AcidCoco-GlucosideGlyceryl OleateLauryl GlucosideSodium LevulinateSodium PhytateSodium BenzoateSodium Hydroxide
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua | SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Coco-Sulfate | SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 2 · 0 | Green |
| Cocamidopropyl Betaine | ANTISTATIC, CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Propanediol | SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside | CLEANSING, FOAMING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · – | Green |
| Decyl Glucoside | CLEANSING, EMULSION STABILISING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Citric Acid | BUFFERING, CHELATING, FRAGRANCE | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Salicylic Acid | ANTI-SEBORRHEIC, HAIR CONDITIONING, KERATOLYTIC, FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE, SKIN CONDITIONING · 限制 III/98 V/3 | 2 · 0 | Yellow |
| Levulinic Acid | SKIN CONDITIONING, PERFUMING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Coco-Glucoside | CLEANSING, FOAMING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Glyceryl Oleate | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, PERFUMING | 0 · – | Green |
| Lauryl Glucoside | CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · – | Green |
| Sodium Levulinate | SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Phytate | CHELATING, ORAL CARE | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Benzoate | ANTICORROSIVE, FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/1 | 0 · – | Yellow |
| Sodium Hydroxide | BUFFERING, DENATURANT · 限制 III/15a | 3 · – | Green |
Ingredients explained
- Aqua
- Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical
- Sodium Coco-Sulfate
- Strong anionic surfactant; effective cleansing, may cause dryness
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- Cocamidopropyl betaine; zwitterionic co-surfactant reducing irritation and boosting foam, common in mild cleansers.
- Propanediol
- Polyol solvent at 1–5%; light feel, aids solubilization, propylene glycol alternative
- Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
- Caprylyl/capryl glucoside, mild sugar surfactant; low irritation, moderate cleansing
- Decyl Glucoside
- Mild alkyl glucoside, biodegradable; foam stabilizer, thickens with fatty alcohols, low allergenicity.
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Citric Acid
- Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH
- Salicylic Acid
- Lipophilic BHA at 0.5-2%; exfoliant/sebum control, irritation/sensitization at high conc., photosensitivity (SPF needed), avoid sensitive/pregnant.
- Levulinic Acid
- Biodegradable organic acid acting as skin conditioner and perfume; pH adjuster, low irritation at typical use levels.
- Coco-Glucoside
- Mild non-ionic surfactant for cleansing and foaming; rich foam, low irritation, suitable for sensitive and children's products
- Glyceryl Oleate
- Glyceride-based emulsifier and emolient with mild perfuming properties.
- Lauryl Glucoside
- Mild nonionic surfactant for cleansing; 1-5%, suitable for sensitive skin
- Sodium Levulinate
- Sodium levulinate, natural-derived humectant; generally mild, often used in blends.
- Sodium Phytate
- Chelating agent stabilizes metal ions to prevent oxidative degradation; also used in oral care, high safety profile.
- Sodium Benzoate
- Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-19. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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