boots N7 Balancing Serum

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. Vitamin E
2. Vitamin C
3. Green Tea
4. Aqua
5. Dimethicone
6. Glycerin
7. Octyldodecanol
8. Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
9. Butylene Glycol
10. Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
11. Dimethicone Crosspolymer
12. Tocopheryl Acetate
13. Alcohol Denat
14. Phenoxyethanol
15. Panthenol
16. Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
17. Bisabolol
18. Ascorbyl Glucoside
19. Xanthan Gum
20. Sodium Hyaluronate
21. Polysorbate 20
22. Parfum
23. Dimethiconol
24. Caprylyl Glycol
25. Sphinganine
26. Sodium Benzoate
27. Citric Acid
28. Dipropylene Glycol
29. Ethylhexylglycerin
30. Tetrasodium EDTA
31. Potassium Hydroxide
32. T-Butyl Alcohol
33. Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
34. Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Highlights

Free of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains siliconesContains alcoholContains essential oilsContains PEGContains EU-26 allergensContains fragrance

Formulation view Builds a lightweight base with dimethicone and modified starch absorbents, combined with vitamin C derivatives, green tea, and panthenol. Cationic polymers and crosslinked silicones adjust viscosity and shine, ideal for oily or combination skin as a daytime layer. Formulator's note: Uses an oil-free silicone system to balance sebum and enhances stability via chelating agents.

Key ingredients

抗氧化剂

Vitamin EVitamin C

SOLVENT

Aqua

ANTIFOAMING

Dimethicone

DENATURANT

Glycerin

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Octyldodecanol

ABSORBENT

Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate

HUMECTANT

Butylene Glycol

Other ingredients

Green TeaAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP CopolymerDimethicone CrosspolymerTocopheryl AcetateAlcohol DenatPhenoxyethanolPanthenolOphiopogon Japonicus Root ExtractBisabololAscorbyl GlucosideXanthan GumSodium HyaluronatePolysorbate 20ParfumDimethiconolCaprylyl GlycolSphinganineSodium BenzoateCitric AcidDipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerinTetrasodium EDTAPotassium HydroxideT-Butyl AlcoholDimethylmethoxy ChromanolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Vitamin E

Tocopherol antioxidant; >0.5% may need encapsulation or synergists to prevent oxidation.

Vitamin C

L-ascorbic acid for antioxidant and brightening; pH <3.5 required; oxidation-prone, airless packaging needed

Green Tea

Not decoded yet

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

Dimethicone

Silicone occlusive at 1–5%; provides smooth feel, non-penetrating, suitable for sensitive skin

Glycerin

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

Octyldodecanol

Light emollient/emulsifier at 1-5%; low comedogenic, non-greasy feel, broadly compatible, sensitive-skin friendly.

Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate

Modified starch absorbent at 1–10%; for powder products, oil-absorbing without heavy feel

Butylene Glycol

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

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer

Cationic polymer providing suspension, thickening, and conditioning; often paired with anionic thickening systems, low usage, imparts slip.

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Crosslinked silicone polymer providing silkiness and viscosity control; for hair and skin; inert but hard to biodegrade.

Tocopheryl Acetate

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

Alcohol Denat

Denatured ethanol; solvent, penetration enhancer, and quick-dry agent; high % may compromise barrier in dry skin.

Phenoxyethanol

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

Panthenol

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

Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract

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

Bisabolol

Soothing and anti-inflammatory agent, 0.01–0.1%; low irritation, good for sensitive skin.

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Stable Vitamin C derivative, antioxidant; more stable than pure ascorbic acid, releases activity slowly in neutral/basic conditions.

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

Sodium Hyaluronate

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

Polysorbate 20

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

Parfum

Fragrance for scent; may contain allergens, caution for sensitive skin, full labeling required.

Dimethiconol

Dimethiconol; silicone emollient providing silky feel and reducing friction; moderate comedogenicity, avoid excess.

Caprylyl Glycol

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

Sphinganine

Not decoded yet

Sodium Benzoate

Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates

Citric Acid

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

Dipropylene Glycol

Solvent for essential oils; better humectancy than PEG

Ethylhexylglycerin

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

Tetrasodium EDTA

Chelator removing metal ions to enhance antioxidant and preservative efficacy; very low usage, typically 0.05-0.1%, no direct skincare function.

Potassium Hydroxide

Strong alkali pH adjuster, trace usage (<0.1%); corrosive, must be neutralized.

T-Butyl Alcohol

Fast-evaporating solvent; sharp odor and potential irritation at high levels, limit usage

Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol

Ergothioneine analog antioxidant; stabilizes formula, protect from light.

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

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

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