balea Handcreme Urea (2021)

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. Urea
3. Ethylhexyl Stearate
4. Glycerin
5. Cetearyl Alcohol
6. Pentaerythrityl Distearate
7. Dicaprylyl Ether
8. Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
9. Parfum/Fragrance
10. Coco-Caprylate
11. Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
12. Sodium Lactate
13. Tocopheryl Acetate
14. Tocopherol
15. Xanthan Gum
16. Gellan Gum
17. Lactic Acid
18. Benzyl Alcohol
19. Linalool
20. Citronellol
21. Limonene
22. Geraniol
23. Decylene Glycol
24. Caprylyl Glycol
25. Phenoxyethanol

Highlights

Free of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains EU-26 allergensContains fragranceContains alcoholContains essential oils

Formulation view High-urea body lotion with an aqueous base, featuring approximately 20% urea alongside shea butter and synthetic esters for emollience and occlusion. Glycerin-based humectants support hydration. Preserved with phenoxyethanol. Ideal for very dry skin or thick keratin areas. Formulator note: Urea serves dual functions as humectant and exfoliant; high concentration requires caution for sensitive skin, balanced by polyols and oil phases.

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

Aqua

ANTISTATIC

Urea

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Ethylhexyl StearateCetearyl AlcoholDicaprylyl Ether

DENATURANT

Glycerin

SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING

Pentaerythrityl Distearate

SKIN CONDITIONING

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Other ingredients

Parfum/FragranceCoco-CaprylateSodium Stearoyl GlutamateSodium LactateTocopheryl AcetateTocopherolXanthan GumGellan GumLactic AcidBenzyl AlcoholLinaloolCitronellolLimoneneGeraniolDecylene GlycolCaprylyl GlycolPhenoxyethanol

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

Urea

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

Ethylhexyl Stearate

Synthetic ester emollient and emulsifier; oil-soluble, light feel, low comedogenicity, suitable for oily skin.

Glycerin

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

Cetearyl Alcohol

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

Pentaerythrityl Distearate

Oil-soluble emulsifier/wax; improves cream hardness and shine, typical use 1-5%, non-ionic

Dicaprylyl Ether

Lightweight diester solvent and emollient, non-greasy feel; common oil phase carrier; low irritation.

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Shea butter for occlusive moisturizing; high melt point, rich texture, caution for oily skin.

Parfum/Fragrance

Blended fragrance for odor; contains 26 restricted allergens, use caution in sensitive/child/eye products, verify compliance.

Coco-Caprylate

Coconut/caprylate ester for light emollient finish; balance with humectants.

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Mild amino-acid surfactant, poor solubility, pairs with fatty alcohols, fine foam.

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate for moisturizing and exfoliation; pH buffering agent

Tocopheryl Acetate

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

Tocopherol

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

Xanthan Gum

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

Gellan Gum

Gellan gum; water-soluble polymer; gel former; high transparency, strong gelling, for aqueous phase stability.

Lactic Acid

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

Benzyl Alcohol

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

Linalool

Natural fragrance component at ≤0.05%; one of EU 26 allergens, caution for sensitive skin

Citronellol

Citronellol for fragrance; EU 26 allergen, labeling required above 0.001%.

Limonene

Natural fragrance solvent, EU allergen; poor photostability

Geraniol

Geraniol for fragrance; EU 26 allergen, labeling required above 0.001%.

Decylene Glycol

Multi-functional thickener and preservative booster, 0.1–0.5%; low viscosity, good compatibility

Caprylyl Glycol

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

Phenoxyethanol

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

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