olay Natural Aura Face Cleanser
olay Olay Natural Aura Face Cleanser lists 21 ingredients on its label, 18 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.
Highlights
Free of parabensFree of siliconesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains PEGContains sulfatesContains animal-derivedContains alcoholContains EU-26 allergensContains fragrance
Formulation view Base blends PPG-15 Stearyl Ether and Glycerin, with SLS and Stearyl Alcohol structuring the cream. Added Salicylic Acid offers exfoliation, while cationic surfactants provide conditioning. Best for combination to oily skin seeking mild exfoliation. Formulator note: The combination of SLS and high fatty alcohols requires attention to post-wash feel and sensitization potential.
Key ingredients
- SOLVENT
- Aqua
- SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT
- PPG-15 Stearyl EtherStearyl Alcohol
- DENATURANT
- Glycerin
- ANTISTATIC
- Cetyl BetaineDistearyldimonium Chloride
- ANTI-SEBORRHEIC
- Salicylic Acid
- CLEANSING
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Other ingredients
PPG-30Steareth-21Steareth-2Cetyl AlcoholBehenyl AlcoholArachidyl AlcoholDisodium EDTASodium ChlorideSodium HydroxideHydrated SilicaAlcoholParfumBenzyl Salicylate
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua | SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| PPG-15 Stearyl Ether | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT | 0 · 1 | Green |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Stearyl Alcohol | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, EMULSION STABILISING, SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, FRAGRANCE, OPACIFYING, REFATTING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 3 | Green |
| Cetyl Betaine | ANTISTATIC, CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Salicylic Acid | ANTI-SEBORRHEIC, HAIR CONDITIONING, KERATOLYTIC, FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE, SKIN CONDITIONING · 限制 III/98 V/3 | 2 · 0 | Yellow |
| Distearyldimonium Chloride | ANTISTATIC, HAIR CONDITIONING | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate | CLEANSING, DENATURANT, FOAMING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 4 · 0 | Yellow |
| PPG-30 | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Steareth-21 | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Steareth-2 | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Cetyl Alcohol | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, EMULSION STABILISING, SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, FRAGRANCE, OPACIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 1 · 1 | Green |
| Behenyl Alcohol | BINDING, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, EMULSION STABILISING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Arachidyl Alcohol | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, EMULSION STABILISING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Disodium EDTA | CHELATING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Chloride | BULKING, FRAGRANCE, ORAL CARE, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Hydroxide | BUFFERING, DENATURANT · 限制 III/15a | 3 · – | Green |
| Hydrated Silica | ABRASIVE, ABSORBENT, ANTICAKING, BULKING, OPACIFYING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Alcohol | ANTIFOAMING, ANTIMICROBIAL, ASTRINGENT, FRAGRANCE, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Parfum | FRAGRANCE, PERFUMING | 2 · 0 | Yellow |
| Benzyl Salicylate | PERFUMING, LIGHT STABILIZER · 限制 III/75 | 0 · – | Yellow |
Ingredients explained
- Aqua
- Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical
- PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
- PPG-15 stearyl ether emollient, improves spreadability; low-molecular PPG, slippery feel.
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Stearyl Alcohol
- Stearic alcohol; fatty alcohol for emulsion thickening/structure, often blended with soaps, moderate comedogenicity.
- Cetyl Betaine
- Amphoteric surfactant, mild foam boosting and conditioning; improves foam stability, minimal irritation to hair and skin.
- Salicylic Acid
- Lipophilic BHA at 0.5-2%; exfoliant/sebum control, irritation/sensitization at high conc., photosensitivity (SPF needed), avoid sensitive/pregnant.
- Distearyldimonium Chloride
- Cationic hair detangler; add with nonionics to reduce tack at high levels.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Strong anionic surfactant, high foam; high irritation risk, avoid in sensitive formulas.
- PPG-30
- Not decoded yet
- Steareth-21
- Not decoded yet
- Steareth-2
- Not decoded yet
- Cetyl Alcohol
- Cetyl alcohol for emulsification/thickening; high concentration >10% may irritate.
- Behenyl Alcohol
- Fat alcohol emulsifier/thickener at 1-3%; low comedogenic risk, check solubility in strong acid/base systems, add antioxidants.
- Arachidyl Alcohol
- Waxy emulsion stabilizer and thickener, often paired with cetearyl alcohol; heavy feel, good for creams
- Disodium EDTA
- Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy
- Sodium Chloride
- Salt for gel viscosity control; used as precipitant in soaps
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care
- Hydrated Silica
- Inorganic abrasive and oil absorbent; prone to settling, needs dispersant, high levels increase exfoliation
- Alcohol
- Ethanol for solubility/drying at 5-15%; high conc. is drying/irritating, avoid lip/eye, low residue, balance with humectants.
- Parfum
- Fragrance for scent; may contain allergens, caution for sensitive skin, full labeling required.
- Benzyl Salicylate
- UV absorber/light stabilizer, restricted in EU; potential sensitizer, risk assessment needed.
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-21. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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