olay Refreshing Gel Cleanser
olay Olay Refreshing Gel Cleanser lists 31 ingredients on its label, 28 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.
- Aqua
- Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
- PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
- Glycerin
- Sorbitol
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- Sodium Trideceth Sulfate
- PEG-100
- BHT
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
- Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
- PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
- Citric Acid
- Polyquaternium-10
- Disodium EDTA
- Sodium Sulfate
- Trideceth 3
- Sodium Chloride
- Propylene Glycol
- Magnesium Nitrate
- Sodium Acetate
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Tetrasodium EDTA
- Magnesium Chloride
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone
- Diazolidinyl Urea
- Phenoxyethanol
- Methylparaben
- Methylisothiazolinone
- Parfum
- Linalool
Highlights
Free of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsContains PEGContains fragranceContains alcoholContains EU-26 allergensContains formaldehyde releasersContains parabens
Key ingredients
- SOLVENT
- Aqua
- CLEANSING
- Sodium LauroamphoacetatePEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
- DENATURANT
- Glycerin
- HUMECTANT
- Sorbitol
- ANTISTATIC
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- ANTIOXIDANT
- BHT
- SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Other ingredients
Sodium Trideceth SulfatePEG-100Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractPEG-7 Glyceryl CocoateCitric AcidPolyquaternium-10Disodium EDTASodium SulfateTrideceth 3Sodium ChloridePropylene GlycolMagnesium NitrateSodium AcetateIsopropyl AlcoholTetrasodium EDTAMagnesium ChlorideMethylchloroisothiazolinoneDiazolidinyl UreaPhenoxyethanolMethylparabenMethylisothiazolinoneParfumLinalool
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua | SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Lauroamphoacetate | CLEANSING, FOAMING, SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 1 · 0 | Green |
| PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate | CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SOLVENT, 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 |
| Sorbitol | HUMECTANT, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING, PERFUMING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate | ANTISTATIC, CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, FOAMING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · – | Green |
| Sodium Trideceth Sulfate | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| PEG-100 | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| BHT | ANTIOXIDANT, FRAGRANCE · 限制 III / 325 | 0 · 0 | Yellow |
| Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Citric Acid | BUFFERING, CHELATING, FRAGRANCE | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Polyquaternium-10 | ANTISTATIC, FILM FORMING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Disodium EDTA | CHELATING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Sulfate | BULKING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Trideceth 3 | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Sodium Chloride | BULKING, FRAGRANCE, ORAL CARE, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Propylene Glycol | HUMECTANT, FRAGRANCE, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Magnesium Nitrate | HAIR CONDITIONING | 0 · – | Green |
| Sodium Acetate | BUFFERING, FRAGRANCE | 0 · – | Green |
| Isopropyl Alcohol | ANTIFOAMING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING | 3 · 0 | Green |
| Tetrasodium EDTA | CHELATING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Magnesium Chloride | VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, FLAVOURING | 0 · – | Green |
| Methylchloroisothiazolinone | PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/39 | 2 · – | Yellow |
| Diazolidinyl Urea | PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/46 | 1 · – | Yellow |
| Phenoxyethanol | ANTIMICROBIAL, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/29 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Methylparaben | FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/12 | 0 · 0 | Yellow |
| Methylisothiazolinone | PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/57 V/39 | 5 · 0 | Yellow |
| Parfum | FRAGRANCE, PERFUMING | 2 · 0 | Yellow |
| Linalool | DEODORANT, PERFUMING · 限制 III/84 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
Ingredients explained
- Aqua
- Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical
- Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
- Amphoteric surfactant for gentle cleansing; rich foam, low irritation to eyes and skin.
- PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
- High MW PEG derivative for cleansing; water-soluble, smooth feel.
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Sorbitol
- Polyol humectant with strong hygroscopy; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives; also a solvent or adjuster.
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- Mild anionic surfactant for cleansing and emulsification; 1-5%, suitable for sensitive skin
- Sodium Trideceth Sulfate
- Not decoded yet
- PEG-100
- Not decoded yet
- BHT
- Lipophilic antioxidant at 0.01-0.05%; ineffective with acidic systems, label-sensitive, check regulatory limits as preservative alternative.
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
- Aloe vera leaf extract for soothing and humectant; monitor polysaccharide level and endotoxins
- Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
- Botanical extract for conditioning; note extraction impact on active retention
- PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
- PEG-modified nonionic surfactant for emulsification and cleansing; contains PEG, monitor dioxane, low comedogenicity.
- Citric Acid
- Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH
- Polyquaternium-10
- Cationic polymer for fabric or hair smoothness; generally low irritation but may conflict with other cationic actives
- Disodium EDTA
- Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy
- Sodium Sulfate
- Inorganic salt for viscosity; high concentrations cause osmotic dehydration.
- Trideceth 3
- Not decoded yet
- Sodium Chloride
- Salt for gel viscosity control; used as precipitant in soaps
- Propylene Glycol
- Polyol humectant at 3-10%; hygroscopic, slight tackiness, mild irritation at high conc., verify preservative efficacy, no allergen.
- Magnesium Nitrate
- Inorganic salt for hair conditioning; improves smoothness and shine, high concentrations may stiffen hair, balance cationics.
- Sodium Acetate
- Sodium acetate buffer for pH adjustment; sometimes acts as mild fragrance, common in lotions and washes
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Alcohol solvent at 1–10%; fast-evaporating, high levels may cause dryness/irritation
- Tetrasodium EDTA
- Chelator removing metal ions to enhance antioxidant and preservative efficacy; very low usage, typically 0.05-0.1%, no direct skincare function.
- Magnesium Chloride
- Inorganic salt for thickening and pH adjustment; 0.1-1%, avoid calcium ions
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone
- Preservative (MCI); highly sensitizing, use only in rinse-off, avoid leave-on products.
- Diazolidinyl Urea
- Formaldehyde-releasing preservative; EU cap at 0.2%; avoid for formaldehyde-sensitive users
- Phenoxyethanol
- Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin
- Methylparaben
- Preservative, narrow spectrum; often combined, check allergen risk and regulatory limits.
- Methylisothiazolinone
- Strong preservative; high allergy risk, EU restricted for leave-on products, high formulation risk
- Parfum
- Fragrance for scent; may contain allergens, caution for sensitive skin, full labeling required.
- Linalool
- Natural fragrance component at ≤0.05%; one of EU 26 allergens, caution for sensitive skin
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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