Dr's Secret Refining 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. Aqua
2. Butylene Glycol
3. Castanea sativa
4. PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
5. Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
6. Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
7. Rhus Semialata Gall Extract
8. Caprylyl Glycol
9. Carbomer
10. Triethanolamine
11. Salix Alba Bark Extract
12. 1,2-Hexanediol
13. Allantoin
14. Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
15. Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
16. Yeast Ferment Extract
17. Ethylhexylglycerin
18. Di-Potassium Glycyrrhizinate
19. Mentha Haplocalix Extract
20. Menthyl lactate
21. Glycerin
22. Hydrolyzed albumen
23. Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
24. Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
25. Ethyl Hexanediol
26. Beta-Glucan
27. Benzyl Glycol
28. Cysteine
29. Cystine
30. Glutamic Acid
31. Valine
32. Raspberry Ketone
33. Parfum
34. Phenoxyethanol

Highlights

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

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

Aqua

HUMECTANT

Butylene Glycol

SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING

PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

FRAGRANCE

Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract

HAIR CONDITIONING

Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract

DEODORANT

Caprylyl Glycol

EMULSION STABILISING

Carbomer

BUFFERING

Triethanolamine

Other ingredients

Castanea sativaRhus Semialata Gall ExtractSalix Alba Bark Extract1,2-HexanediolAllantoinAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP CopolymerCamellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractYeast Ferment ExtractEthylhexylglycerinDi-Potassium GlycyrrhizinateMentha Haplocalix ExtractMenthyl lactateGlycerinHydrolyzed albumenScutellaria Baicalensis Root ExtractHamamelis Virginiana Leaf ExtractEthyl HexanediolBeta-GlucanBenzyl GlycolCysteineCystineGlutamic AcidValineRaspberry KetoneParfumPhenoxyethanol

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

Butylene Glycol

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

Castanea sativa

Not decoded yet

PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer at 1–5%; contains PEG, check acid compatibility and sensitive skin irritation

Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract

Chamomile extract used for soothing; check for potential sensitizing allergens.

Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract

Cinnamon bark for hair and fragrance; some allergens require labeling; watch oral dosage.

Rhus Semialata Gall Extract

Not decoded yet

Caprylyl Glycol

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

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Triethanolamine

Triethanolamine for buffering; restricted, limit concentration to avoid high pH and irritation

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Contains natural salicylic acid precursors, mild exfoliating and antibacterial; may irritate at high levels; avoid in sensitive skin.

1,2-Hexanediol

Polyol solvent and preservative booster at 1–5%; light feel, can replace some traditional preservatives

Allantoin

Skin soother at 0.5-2%; promotes cell regeneration

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer

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

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

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

Yeast Ferment Extract

Fermented humectant, 1-5% common; monitor batch stability, patch test for sensitive skin.

Ethylhexylglycerin

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

Di-Potassium Glycyrrhizinate

Not decoded yet

Mentha Haplocalix Extract

Mentha haplocalix extract, fragrance; provides cooling and scent, limit for children due to potential irritation.

Menthyl lactate

Menthyl lactate, cooling and fragrance agent, provides mild menthol sensation for refreshing

Glycerin

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

Hydrolyzed albumen

Not decoded yet

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Scutellaria root extract with baicalin for antioxidant and soothing effects; also provides astringent and humectant properties.

Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract

Witch hazel leaf extract for astringency and skin care; common in soothing formulas

Ethyl Hexanediol

Polyol solvent with humectant and mild preservative boost; low viscosity, compatible with many ingredients, gentle.

Beta-Glucan

Polysaccharide for soothing and hydration; high MW acts on the surface, poor penetration into deep dermis.

Benzyl Glycol

Solvent and viscosity regulator; aids solubility of actives, slight preservative boost

Cysteine

Cysteine reducing agent at 1–5% for waving; acidic amino acid, sulfur odor possible, pH buffering needed

Cystine

Disulfide bond amino acid for hair repair; mild sulfurous odor, consider masking.

Glutamic Acid

Glutamic acid, non-essential amino acid humectant; high levels can be astringent, buffer needed.

Valine

Amino acid humectant, common in amino acid cleansers and sprays; mild, suitable for all skin types

Raspberry Ketone

Natural raspberry ketone; acts as fragrance and skin conditioning agent; often added in trace amounts for specific claims.

Parfum

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

Phenoxyethanol

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