Acure's Sensitive Facial Cleanser Argan Oil + Probiotic has gained popularity, prompting a closer look at its ingredient list. This article provides a comprehensive breakdown of the components, addressing potential concerns and benefits.
Introduction
Understanding the ingredients in skincare products is crucial for making informed decisions. Acure's facial cleanser boasts a blend of natural and plant-based ingredients, but a detailed analysis is necessary to determine its suitability for various skin types and concerns.
Key Ingredients and Their Functions
Water (Aqua)
Good old water, aka H2O. The most common skincare ingredient of all. It serves as the primary solvent in the formulation. The water used in cosmetics is purified and deionized, meaning that almost all of the mineral ions inside it is removed.
Coco-Glucoside
A 100% vegetable origin, biodegradable, mild cleansing agent that gives moderate to high amount of foam. This ingredient is derived from coconut or palm kernel oil and glucose, offering effective cleansing with a gentle touch.
Lauryl Glucoside
A vegetable origin (coconut or palm kernel oil and glucose) cleansing agent with great foaming abilities. It enhances the foaming action of the cleanser, contributing to a satisfying user experience.
Read also: Get Rid of Facial Hair
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
A thickening and foam-boasting co-surfactant with amphoteric structure meaning that its head contains both a positively and a negatively charged part (surfactants are most commonly anionic meaning their head has a negative charge). Super common ingredient in all kinds of cleansing products: face and body washes, shampoos and foam baths. Number one reason for its popularity has to do with bubbles. Everyone loves bubbles. And cocamidopropyl betaine is great at stabilizing them. The other reason is that it’s mild and works very well combined with other cleansing agents and surfactants.
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
A very mild cleansing agent with a dense and luxurious foam and an elegant after feel.
Glycerin
A mild and non-drying cleanser that gives skin a nice and soft after-feel.
Glyceryl Oleate
A soft, mild cleansing agent with amphoteric structure meaning that its head contains both a positively and a negatively charged part (surfactants are most commonly anionic meaning their head has a negative charge). It also has great foaming abilities and is recommended for baby products and other non-irritating cleansers.
Fragrance
Exactly what it sounds: nice smelling stuff put into cosmetic products so that the end product also smells nice. If you are someone who likes to know what you put on your face then fragrance is not your best friend - there's no way to know what’s really in it. Also, if your skin is sensitive, fragrance is again not your best friend. It’s the number one cause of contact allergy to cosmetics.
Read also: Choosing the right facial peel mask
Gluconolactone
A next generation AHA, a so-called PHA that gently exfoliates skin without irritation. It also moisturizes and helps the skin barrier.
Potassium Sorbate
It's one of those things that help your cosmetics not to go wrong too soon, aka a preservative. It’s not a strong one and doesn’t really work against bacteria, but more against mold and yeast. To do that it has to break down to its active form, sorbic acid. For that to happen, there has to be water in the product and the right pH value (pH 3-4). But even if everything is right, it’s not enough on its own. If you see potassium sorbate you should see some other preservative next to it too. BTW, it’s also a food preservative and even has an E number, E202.
Citric Acid
Citric acid comes from citrus fruits and is an AHA. But according to a comparative study done in 1995, citric acid has less skin improving magic properties than glycolic or lactic acid.
Alcohol
Simply alcohol refers to ethanol and it's a pretty controversial ingredient. It has many instant benefits: it's a great solvent, penetration enhancer, creates cosmetically elegant, light formulas, great astringent and antimicrobial. The downside is that it can be very drying if it's in the first few ingredients on an ingredient list. Some experts even think that regular exposure to alcohol damages skin barrier and causes inflammation though it's a debated opinion.
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
Chamomile probably needs no introduction as it's one of the most widely used medicinal herbs. Cosmetic companies use it mainly for its anti-inflammatory properties. It contains the terpenoids chamazulene and bisabolol both of which show great anti-inflammatory action in animal studies. On top of that chamomile also has some antioxidant activity (thanks to some other active ingredients called matricine, apigenin and luteolin).
Read also: PRP Facial Recovery Tips
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
The extract coming from the popular garden plant Calendula or Marigold. According to manufacturer info, it's used for many centuries for its exceptional healing powers and is particularly remarkable in the treatment of wounds.
Other Ingredients
Other ingredients found in the cleanser include Argan Oil, Probiotic, Curoxidant Blend. The Curoxidant Blend makes up the first 5 ingredients in all of our cream-based formulas. Consisting of certified organic acai, blackberry, rosehips, rooibos, and pomegranate, these super fruits and herbs provide powerful free-radical scavenging benefits. This blend helps to balance all of our cream base facial products at a 5.5 pH.
Potential Concerns
Coconut Oil and Fatty Alcohols
Some individuals may experience sensitivity to coconut oil and fatty alcohols, which are present in the cleanser. Those with known sensitivities should exercise caution.
Fragrance
Fragrance is the number one cause of contact allergy to cosmetics.
Alcohol
The downside is that it can be very drying if it's in the first few ingredients on an ingredient list.
Benefits
Gentle Cleansing
The cleanser utilizes mild surfactants and cleansing agents, promoting effective cleansing without stripping the skin of its natural oils.
Skin-Soothing Properties
Ingredients like chamomile and calendula extracts offer anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing benefits, potentially reducing irritation and redness.
Antioxidant Protection
The inclusion of the Curoxidant Blend, comprising acai, blackberry, rosehips, rooibos, and pomegranate, provides antioxidant protection against free radical damage.
pH Balance
All of our cream and gel based products have a pH of 5-5.5. This is the natural pH of our skin's acid mantle.
Ethical Considerations
The product is cruelty-free, 100% biodegradable, and manufactured in a gluten-free facility. It also avoids petrochemicals, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde donors, synthetic fragrances, gluten, and soy.
User Experience
One user reported that the cleanser effectively removes makeup without irritating the eye area. The user also noted a significant improvement in skin texture, with the skin feeling soft and glowy after use. However, the strong natural scent, reminiscent of chamomile, may be a deterrent for some.
tags: #acure #facial #cleanser #ingredients