real-u Real U CONTROL Face 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. Propylene Glycol
3. Cyclotetrasiloxane
4. Cyclopentasiloxane
5. Sodium PCA
6. Cetearyl Olivate
7. Glycerin
8. Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
9. Sodium Scymnol Sulfate
10. Isohexadecane
11. Carbomer
12. Triethanolamine
13. Polysorbate 80
14. Sorbitan Olivate
15. Phenyl Trimethicone
16. C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
17. Sodium Lactate
18. Serine
19. Urea
20. Sorbitol
21. Benzyl Alcohol
22. Phenoxyethanol
23. Diazolidinyl Urea
24. Xanthan Gum
25. Tocopheryl Acetate
26. Panthenol
27. Retinyl Palmitate
28. Dimethiconol
29. Dimethicone Crosspolymer
30. Pentylene Glycol
31. Lactic Acid
32. Sodium Chloride
33. Allantoin
34. Disodium EDTA

Highlights

Free of fragranceFree of sulfatesFree of essential oilsContains siliconesContains mineral oilContains parabensContains PEGContains alcoholContains EU-26 allergensContains formaldehyde releasers

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

Aqua

HUMECTANT

Propylene Glycol

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

CyclotetrasiloxaneCyclopentasiloxaneCetearyl Olivate

ANTISTATIC

Sodium PCA

DENATURANT

Glycerin

ANTICAKING

Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Other ingredients

Sodium Scymnol SulfateIsohexadecaneCarbomerTriethanolaminePolysorbate 80Sorbitan OlivatePhenyl TrimethiconeC12-15 Alkyl BenzoateSodium LactateSerineUreaSorbitolBenzyl AlcoholPhenoxyethanolDiazolidinyl UreaXanthan GumTocopheryl AcetatePanthenolRetinyl PalmitateDimethiconolDimethicone CrosspolymerPentylene GlycolLactic AcidSodium ChlorideAllantoinDisodium EDTA

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

Propylene Glycol

Polyol humectant at 3-10%; hygroscopic, slight tackiness, mild irritation at high conc., verify preservative efficacy, no allergen.

Cyclotetrasiloxane

Volatile silicone providing slip; D4 is restricted in EU rinse-off products and requires labeling for leave-on use.

Cyclopentasiloxane

Cyclopentasiloxane for emollient/solvent; volatile silicone, smooth feel, check VOC regulations.

Sodium PCA

Sodium PCA, NMF component, 1-10% humectant; salty/tacky at high levels.

Cetearyl Olivate

Natural emulsifier pairing with glucosides; skin-like feel, biodegradable, prone to oxidation requiring light protection

Glycerin

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

Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Acrylate copolymer for film/thickening; water-soluble, compatible, monitor residual monomers.

Sodium Scymnol Sulfate

Not decoded yet

Isohexadecane

Lightweight mineral-oil-derived emollient and solvent; low viscosity, non-comedogenic, improves texture

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Triethanolamine

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

Polysorbate 80

Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer; watch for interaction with parabens

Sorbitan Olivate

O/W emulsifier, HLB ~15, requires ionic co-surfactant, potential sensitizer.

Phenyl Trimethicone

Aromatic modified silicone for high gloss and occlusion; inert, non-volatile, may leave surface residue

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

C12-15 alkyl benzoate; emollient, emulsifier, and antistatic; aids stability and smoothness, moderate low comedogenicity.

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate for moisturizing and exfoliation; pH buffering agent

Serine

Humectant amino acid, 1–3%; high water solubility, compatible with sensitive skin.

Urea

Potent humectant and keratolytic, >10% has exfoliating effect; stinging sensation at high levels, sensitive skin caution

Sorbitol

Polyol humectant with strong hygroscopy; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives; also a solvent or adjuster.

Benzyl Alcohol

Mild preservative/solvent at 0.5-1.0%; EU allergen (labeling required), irritation risk if concentrated, avoid in infant/highly sensitive skin.

Phenoxyethanol

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

Diazolidinyl Urea

Formaldehyde-releasing preservative; EU cap at 0.2%; avoid for formaldehyde-sensitive users

Xanthan Gum

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

Tocopheryl Acetate

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

Panthenol

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

Retinyl Palmitate

Vitamin A ester for skin conditioning; light-sensitive, requires protection, avoid in pregnancy.

Dimethiconol

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

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

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

Pentylene Glycol

Polyol humectant at 1-3%; low irritancy, suitable for sensitive skin

Lactic Acid

AHA pH adjuster at 0.5-5%; exfoliation/humectancy, mild at low conc., irritating at high, avoid conflict with alkaline preservatives.

Sodium Chloride

Salt for gel viscosity control; used as precipitant in soaps

Allantoin

Skin soother at 0.5-2%; promotes cell regeneration

Disodium EDTA

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

Related products in this category

• a-florence-skincare A.Florence Skincare Hydration Booster Mist
• a-florence-skincare A.Florence Skincare Skin Barrier Restoring Oil
• im-from I'm From Mugwort Spot Gel
• im-from I'm From Mugwort Sheet Mask
• im-from I'm From Ginseng Eye Cream (Discontinued)
• pixi Pixi Retinol Eye Cream