eltamd Skin Recovery Serum
eltamd EltaMD Skin Recovery Serum lists 28 ingredients on its label, 26 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.
- Water
- Propanediol
- Isododecane
- Glycerin
- Dimethicone
- Polymethylsilsesquioxane
- Polysilicone-11
- Panthenol
- Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
- Taurine
- Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
- Arginine
- Butylene Glycol
- Tocopherol
- Hydroxyacetophenone
- Isohexadecane
- Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
- Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
- Caprylyl Glycol
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- Coco-Glucoside
- Polysorbate 80
- Decyl Glucoside
- Hydroxyethylcellulose
- Citric Acid
- Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
- Glycine
- Sodium Hyaluronate
Highlights
Free of alcoholFree of fragranceFree of sulfatesFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains mineral oilContains siliconesContains animal-derivedContains parabensContains PEG
Key ingredients
- ANTIPLAQUE
- Water
- SOLVENT
- Propanediol
- SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT
- IsododecaneCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
- DENATURANT
- Glycerin
- ANTIFOAMING
- Dimethicone
- OPACIFYING
- Polymethylsilsesquioxane
- ANTISTATIC
- Panthenol
Other ingredients
Polysilicone-11TaurineSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate CopolymerArginineButylene GlycolTocopherolHydroxyacetophenoneIsohexadecaneCentella Asiatica Leaf ExtractAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCaprylyl Glycol1,2-HexanediolCoco-GlucosidePolysorbate 80Decyl GlucosideHydroxyethylcelluloseCitric AcidTrisodium Ethylenediamine DisuccinateGlycineSodium Hyaluronate
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ANTIPLAQUE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Propanediol | SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Isododecane | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SOLVENT, PERFUMING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Dimethicone | ANTIFOAMING, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SKIN CONDITIONING, SKIN PROTECTING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Polymethylsilsesquioxane | OPACIFYING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Polysilicone-11 | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Panthenol | ANTISTATIC, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Coco-Caprylate/Caprate | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Taurine | BUFFERING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer | ANTICAKING, EMULSION STABILISING, FILM FORMING, OPACIFYING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Arginine | ANTISTATIC, HAIR CONDITIONING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Butylene Glycol | HUMECTANT, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Tocopherol | ANTIOXIDANT, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS, SKIN CONDITIONING - OCCLUSIVE | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Hydroxyacetophenone | ANTIOXIDANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Isohexadecane | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract | SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · – | Green |
| Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Caprylyl Glycol | DEODORANT, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| 1,2-Hexanediol | SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Coco-Glucoside | CLEANSING, FOAMING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Polysorbate 80 | DENATURANT, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Decyl Glucoside | CLEANSING, EMULSION STABILISING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Hydroxyethylcellulose | BINDING, EMULSION STABILISING, FILM FORMING, LIGHT STABILIZER, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Citric Acid | BUFFERING, CHELATING, FRAGRANCE | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate | CHELATING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Glycine | ANTISTATIC, BUFFERING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · – | Green |
| Sodium Hyaluronate | HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
Ingredients explained
- Water
- Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth
- Propanediol
- Polyol solvent at 1–5%; light feel, aids solubilization, propylene glycol alternative
- Isododecane
- Synthetic hydrocarbon solvent providing dry, silky skin feel; high volatility, non-comedogenic, common in sunscreens and foundations, usage 5-30%.
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Dimethicone
- Silicone occlusive at 1–5%; provides smooth feel, non-penetrating, suitable for sensitive skin
- Polymethylsilsesquioxane
- Silicone polymer for emolliency, matte effect, and suspension; used in foundations or powder suspensions, typical usage 1-5%, smooth skin feel.
- Polysilicone-11
- Not decoded yet
- Panthenol
- Panthenol (vitamin B5) at 1–5%; moisturizing and reparative, supports barrier recovery
- Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
- Lightweight mid-chain ester, quick spreading, suitable for oily skin, non-comedogenic.
- Taurine
- Taurine; buffering and chelating. Common in shampoos and eye washes, water-soluble.
- Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
- Acrylate copolymer for film/thickening; water-soluble, compatible, monitor residual monomers.
- Arginine
- Arginine for moisturizing/conditioning; amino acid, high biocompatibility, often used in blends.
- Butylene Glycol
- Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel
- Tocopherol
- Natural antioxidant (vitamin E) at 0.1–1%; prone to oxidation, store protected from light
- Hydroxyacetophenone
- Hydroxyacetophenone as antioxidant; often boosts Vitamin C, works in acidic pH.
- Isohexadecane
- Lightweight mineral-oil-derived emollient and solvent; low viscosity, non-comedogenic, improves texture
- Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
- Centella asiatica extract for repair and soothing; contains asiaticoside, good for barrier
- Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
- Not decoded yet
- Caprylyl Glycol
- Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- Polyol solvent and preservative booster at 1–5%; light feel, can replace some traditional preservatives
- Coco-Glucoside
- Mild non-ionic surfactant for cleansing and foaming; rich foam, low irritation, suitable for sensitive and children's products
- Polysorbate 80
- Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer; watch for interaction with parabens
- Decyl Glucoside
- Mild alkyl glucoside, biodegradable; foam stabilizer, thickens with fatty alcohols, low allergenicity.
- Hydroxyethylcellulose
- Water-soluble cellulose ether for thickening and suspension stabilization; sensitive to ions, electrolytes reduce viscosity, use at pH 7-8.
- Citric Acid
- Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH
- Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
- Mild chelator replacing EDTA; water-soluble, very low irritation, stabilizes metal ions
- Glycine
- Humectant amino acid, 1–3%; small molecule, low irritation.
- Sodium Hyaluronate
- Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture
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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