ph-formula pH Formula MD CR Active Recovery

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. Glycerin
3. Lactobionic Acid
4. Steareth-2
5. Cyclopentasiloxane
6. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
7. Cyclohexasiloxane
8. Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
9. Steareth-21
10. Isohexadecane
11. Glyceryl Stearate
12. Hexylene Glycol
13. Panthenol
14. Polysorbate 80
15. Benzyl Alcohol
16. Phenoxyethanol
17. Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
18. Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
19. Sodium Hydroxide
20. Cetearyl Alcohol
21. Potassium Sorbate
22. Fructose
23. Glucose
24. Sorbitan Oleate
25. Disodium EDTA
26. Dipropylene Glycol
27. Perfluorodecalin
28. Sclerotium Gum
29. Dextrin
30. Sucrose
31. Urea
32. Polysorbate 20
33. Retinol
34. Boswellia Serrata Gum
35. Isomalt
36. Sorbitol
37. Alanine
38. Aspartic Acid
39. Glutamic Acid
40. Hexyl Nicotinate
41. Lecithin
42. Tocopherol
43. BHT
44. Xanthan Gum
45. Caprylyl Glycol
46. BHA
47. Argania Spinosa Callus Culture Extract
48. Glyceryl Caprylate
49. Sodium Benzoate
50. Oleic Acid
51. Ci 77491

Highlights

Free of sulfatesFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains siliconesContains mineral oilContains parabensContains PEGContains alcoholContains EU-26 allergensContains fragrance

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

Aqua

DENATURANT

Glycerin

BUFFERING

Lactobionic Acid

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

CyclopentasiloxaneCyclohexasiloxaneIsohexadecane

FRAGRANCE

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

ANTICAKING

Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Other ingredients

Steareth-2Steareth-21Glyceryl StearateHexylene GlycolPanthenolPolysorbate 80Benzyl AlcoholPhenoxyethanolSodium Ascorbyl PhosphatePotassium Azeloyl DiglycinateSodium HydroxideCetearyl AlcoholPotassium SorbateFructoseGlucoseSorbitan OleateDisodium EDTADipropylene GlycolPerfluorodecalinSclerotium GumDextrinSucroseUreaPolysorbate 20RetinolBoswellia Serrata GumIsomaltSorbitolAlanineAspartic AcidGlutamic AcidHexyl NicotinateLecithinTocopherolBHTXanthan GumCaprylyl GlycolBHAArgania Spinosa Callus Culture ExtractGlyceryl CaprylateSodium BenzoateOleic AcidCi 77491

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

Glycerin

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

Lactobionic Acid

Polyhydroxy acid for pH buffering; gentle, check stability at high levels

Steareth-2

Not decoded yet

Cyclopentasiloxane

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

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Light occlusive and solvent at 1–10%; non-greasy feel, suitable for oily and combination skin

Cyclohexasiloxane

Volatile cyclic silicone evaporating without residue; ensure compliance with EU limits on cyclic polydimethylsiloxanes, use octamer

Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

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

Steareth-21

Not decoded yet

Isohexadecane

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

Glyceryl Stearate

Emulsifier at 1-3%; may require acid to prevent saponification

Hexylene Glycol

Polyol solvent and humectant with penetration enhancement; limit concentration to avoid irritation, no specific allergen tag

Panthenol

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

Polysorbate 80

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

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

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Vitamin C derivative antioxidant at 0.5–2%; light-sensitive, requires opaque packaging

Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate

SKIN CONDITIONING

Sodium Hydroxide

Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care

Cetearyl Alcohol

Fatty alcohol emulsifier at 1-5%; non-ionic surfactant

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative effective below pH 6; combinable with sodium benzoate

Fructose

Strong humectant; high levels can increase viscosity and hygroscopicity.

Glucose

Low-MW humectant and buffer; high hygroscopicity requires careful preservation and humidity control.

Sorbitan Oleate

Non-ionic emulsifier for oil-in-water systems; plant-derived, check oxidative stability

Disodium EDTA

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

Dipropylene Glycol

Solvent for essential oils; better humectancy than PEG

Perfluorodecalin

Perfluorodecalin, hydrophobic solvent and glossing agent; used in haircare or dry shampoo, insoluble in water, control usage to avoid greasiness

Sclerotium Gum

Non-ionic gum for gels; neutral pH, requires dissolution via heating or fine milling

Dextrin

Polymer thickener and binder from starch fermentation; biodegradable, hygroscopic, may affect powder flow

Sucrose

Sucrose, water-soluble thickener and humectant; high levels prone to hygroscopy.

Urea

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

Polysorbate 20

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

Retinol

Highly active and unstable, needs robust antioxidant encapsulation; 0.1-1.0%, pregnancy contraindicated

Boswellia Serrata Gum

Not decoded yet

Isomalt

Isomalt humectant; tacky at high levels, non-comedogenic, suitable for sugar-free formulas.

Sorbitol

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

Alanine

Amino acid for antistatic and conditioning; low irritation, slight salty taste at high levels

Aspartic Acid

Amino acid humectant and conditioner, common in rinse-off products; low levels mild, high levels may shift pH

Glutamic Acid

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

Hexyl Nicotinate

Vitamin B3 ester for skin conditioning; typically <1%, check compatibility with acids

Lecithin

Phospholipid emulsifier at 1-5%; biocompatible, moisturizing/antioxidant, prone to oxidation (add TBHQ), mild for sensitive skin.

Tocopherol

Natural antioxidant (vitamin E) at 0.1–1%; prone to oxidation, store protected from light

BHT

Lipophilic antioxidant at 0.01-0.05%; ineffective with acidic systems, label-sensitive, check regulatory limits as preservative alternative.

Xanthan Gum

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

Caprylyl Glycol

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

BHA

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA); oil-phase antioxidant. Use <0.05%. Controversial at high levels.

Argania Spinosa Callus Culture Extract

Not decoded yet

Glyceryl Caprylate

Mild emulsifier/deodorant at 0.5-2%; polyol ester, high humectancy, low irritancy, check cationic surfactant compatibility.

Sodium Benzoate

Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates

Oleic Acid

Oleic acid for emolliency/emulsification; high levels may increase skin penetration

Ci 77491

Iron oxides red; physical pigment. Coloring and photo-protective, stable and non-irritating.

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