Althea Korea Bare Essentials Contour Cleanser
Althea Althea Korea Bare Essentials Contour Cleanser lists 34 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.
- Glycerin
- Water
- Myristic acid
- Stearic Acid
- Potassium Hydroxide
- Palmitic Acid
- Lauric Acid
- PEG-32
- Glyceryl Stearate
- PEG-100 Stearate
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- Glyceryl Stearate SE
- Microcrystalline Cellulose
- Zea mays starch
- Lactose
- Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
- Polyquaternium-67
- Sodium chloride
- Disodium EDTA
- Menthol
- Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer
- Polyquaternium-7
- Fructo-Oligosaccharides
- Saccharide hydrolysate
- Pullulan
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- Tocopheryl Acetate
- Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum
- Sodium Benzoate
- Sodium acetate
- Butylene Glycol
- Lippia Citriodora Leaf Extract
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- Fragrance
Highlights
Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains PEGContains fragranceContains EU-26 allergens
Key ingredients
- DENATURANT
- Glycerin
- ANTIPLAQUE
- Water
- PERFUMING
- Myristic acid
- CLEANSING
- Stearic AcidLauric Acid
- BUFFERING · 限制 III
- Potassium Hydroxide
- SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT
- Palmitic AcidGlyceryl Stearate
Other ingredients
PEG-32PEG-100 StearateCocamidopropyl BetaineGlyceryl Stearate SEMicrocrystalline CelluloseZea mays starchLactosePotassium Cocoyl GlycinatePolyquaternium-67Sodium chlorideDisodium EDTAMentholAcrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymerPolyquaternium-7Fructo-OligosaccharidesSaccharide hydrolysatePullulan1,2-HexanediolTocopheryl AcetateMesembryanthemum CrystallinumSodium BenzoateSodium acetateButylene GlycolLippia Citriodora Leaf ExtractEthylhexylglycerinFragrance
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Water | ANTIPLAQUE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Myristic acid | PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, OPACIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 1 | Green |
| Stearic Acid | CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, EMULSION STABILISING, FRAGRANCE, REFATTING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Potassium Hydroxide | BUFFERING · 限制 III/15a, 15d | 3 · – | Yellow |
| Palmitic Acid | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Lauric Acid | CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 1 · 4 | Green |
| PEG-32 | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Glyceryl Stearate | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| PEG-100 Stearate | SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · – | Green |
| Cocamidopropyl Betaine | ANTISTATIC, CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Glyceryl Stearate SE | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING | 0 · 1 | Green |
| Microcrystalline Cellulose | ABRASIVE, ABSORBENT, ANTICAKING, BULKING, EMULSION STABILISING, OPACIFYING, LIGHT STABILIZER, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Zea mays starch | ABRASIVE, ABSORBENT, ANTICAKING, SKIN PROTECTING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Lactose | HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate | HAIR CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · – | Green |
| Polyquaternium-67 | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Sodium chloride | BULKING, FRAGRANCE, ORAL CARE, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Disodium EDTA | CHELATING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Menthol | DENATURANT, FRAGRANCE, REFRESHING, SOOTHING · 限制 III/338 | 2 · 0 | Yellow |
| Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer | EMULSION STABILISING, FILM FORMING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Polyquaternium-7 | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Fructo-Oligosaccharides | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Saccharide hydrolysate | HUMECTANT | 0 · – | Green |
| Pullulan | BINDING, FILM FORMING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| 1,2-Hexanediol | SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Tocopheryl Acetate | ANTIOXIDANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Sodium Benzoate | ANTICORROSIVE, FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/1 | 0 · – | Yellow |
| Sodium acetate | BUFFERING, FRAGRANCE | 0 · – | Green |
| Butylene Glycol | HUMECTANT, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Lippia Citriodora Leaf Extract | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Ethylhexylglycerin | DEODORANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Fragrance | 矫味剂,增香剂 | — | Yellow |
Ingredients explained
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Water
- Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth
- Myristic acid
- Saturated fatty acid, saponification feedstock; insoluble alone, pairs with stearic acid.
- Stearic Acid
- Fatty acid emulsifier, white waxy solid; adds slip feel
- Potassium Hydroxide
- Strong alkali pH adjuster, trace usage (<0.1%); corrosive, must be neutralized.
- Palmitic Acid
- Palmitic acid for emulsification/emollient; solid fat, high melting point, occlusive.
- Lauric Acid
- Lauric acid for cleansing and emulsification; high comedogenic rating, recommend limiting to 1-2% or combining with other acids.
- PEG-32
- Not decoded yet
- Glyceryl Stearate
- Emulsifier at 1-3%; may require acid to prevent saponification
- PEG-100 Stearate
- Non-ionic emulsifier, requires ionics for stability; check PEG for formaldehyde.
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- Cocamidopropyl betaine; zwitterionic co-surfactant reducing irritation and boosting foam, common in mild cleansers.
- Glyceryl Stearate SE
- Emulsifier at 1–3%; oil-phase ingredient, easy emulsification, low sensitization.
- Microcrystalline Cellulose
- Cellulose derivative for anti-caking, oil absorption, and physical sunscreen carrier; water-insoluble, affects texture at high levels.
- Zea mays starch
- Corn starch for oil absorption and suspension; powder, hygroscopic, needs moisture control
- Lactose
- Low-irritant humectant and skin conditioner, common in gentle formulations.
- Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
- Amino acid surfactant for mild cleansing; fine foam, low irritation, suitable for sensitive and baby products
- Polyquaternium-67
- Not decoded yet
- Sodium chloride
- Salt for gel viscosity control; used as precipitant in soaps
- Disodium EDTA
- Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy
- Menthol
- Cooling and soothing agent at 0.5–2%; high levels may cause sensitivity or irritation, use caution around eyes and mucous membranes
- Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer
- Crosspolymer for thickening/film; needs neutralization to pH 7-8 to hydrate, check ion strength.
- Polyquaternium-7
- Not decoded yet
- Fructo-Oligosaccharides
- Not decoded yet
- Saccharide hydrolysate
- Saccharide hydrolysate, strong humectant with hygroscopic properties; suitable for various dosage forms.
- Pullulan
- Microbial polysaccharide for film forming and thickening; water-soluble film former used in capsules or moisturizing films.
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- Polyol solvent and preservative booster at 1–5%; light feel, can replace some traditional preservatives
- Tocopheryl Acetate
- Vitamin E derivative antioxidant at 0.1–1%; more stable than tocopherol, store protected from light
- Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum
- Not decoded yet
- Sodium Benzoate
- Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates
- Sodium acetate
- Sodium acetate buffer for pH adjustment; sometimes acts as mild fragrance, common in lotions and washes
- Butylene Glycol
- Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel
- Lippia Citriodora Leaf Extract
- Not decoded yet
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel
- Fragrance
- Fragrance; concentration must control allergen risk, label specific components
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-20. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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