A minimalist, creamy facial cleanser designed to provide a gentle, soap-free, and fragrance-free cleanse without stripping the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
The performance rating of 5.8/10 is due to a very basic and somewhat outdated formulation. While the inclusion of fatty alcohols like Cetyl Alcohol and Stearyl Alcohol provides a creamy texture and helps mitigate dryness, the primary cleansing agent is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). SLS is highly effective at removing oil and dirt, but it is notoriously harsh and can strip the skin’s natural moisture barrier, leading to post-wash tightness or rebound oil production. Furthermore, the formula lacks beneficial active ingredients or humectants beyond Propylene Glycol, leaving it as a bare-minimum cleanser with mediocre performance.
The safety rating of 6.5/10 reflects a moderate risk of skin irritation. The formulation’s main drawback is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), a well-documented skin sensitizer and irritant that can disrupt the outer skin barrier, making it unsuitable for sensitive, dry, or compromised skin types. Additionally, ingredients like Propylene Glycol and the preservative Phenoxyethanol can occasionally trigger contact allergies in sensitive individuals. While Sodium Hydroxide is highly alkaline, it is used in safe, trace amounts solely for pH adjustment, and the addition of Hydroxyacetophenone offers some soothing and antioxidant support.
With a final rating of 6.1/10, this cleanser is a simple, no-frills product that gets the job done but carries a high potential for dryness and irritation. The heavy reliance on Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) lowers both its performance and safety profiles, as modern skincare standards favor much gentler surfactants. Although fatty emollients like Cetyl Alcohol and Stearyl Alcohol attempt to buffer the harsh cleansing action, the product ultimately lacks the sophisticated, skin-barrier-respecting ingredients found in superior contemporary cleansers.
This formula is highly reminiscent of classic, drugstore-staple “gentle skin cleansers” that have been modernized to replace parabens with phenoxyethanol and hydroxyacetophenone as preservatives. With only eight ingredients, it is an extremely stripped-back, minimalist formulation that prioritizes basic, non-irritating cleansing over active skincare treatments. At first glance, the inclusion of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) might alarm skincare enthusiasts. SLS is widely notorious as a harsh, stripping surfactant that can disrupt the skin barrier and cause severe irritation. However, the formulation chemistry here is clever: the SLS is heavily buffered and bound within a thick matrix of fatty alcohols—specifically cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. This structural pairing forms a creamy, low-lathering emulsion that prevents the SLS from deeply penetrating the stratum corneum. Instead of stripping your skin, the surfactant acts primarily to lift away light dirt and oils, while the fatty alcohols and the humectant propylene glycol deposit a light emollient film. This unique mechanism leaves the skin feeling exceptionally soft, supple, and hydrated rather than tight and dry. In terms of usability, this lotion-like cleanser is incredibly versatile. It can be used traditionally by rinsing with water, or applied directly to dry skin and wiped away with a soft cloth or tissue—a major benefit for those with severely dry skin or those who react poorly to tap water. It is entirely free of common irritants like essential oils, synthetic fragrances, and drying alcohols, which greatly reduces the risk of allergic contact dermatitis. However, its simplicity is also its primary limitation. This cleanser is extremely mild, meaning it will struggle to break down heavy, waterproof makeup, physical mineral sunscreens, or stubborn buildup. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, this formula may feel like it leaves a heavy, greasy residue behind, and the high concentration of fatty alcohols could potentially trigger breakouts in congestion-prone skin. Furthermore, while the SLS irritation potential is minimized by the fatty alcohols, individuals with extremely compromised skin barriers, active eczema flare-ups, or a known allergy to sulfates should still proceed with caution. Ultimately, this is a highly reliable, budget-friendly option for a gentle morning cleanse or as a second cleanse in a double-cleansing routine. It does one job—cleansing without stripping—and it does it safely for normal, dry, and sensitive skin types.
🧪 Water / 水
Purpose: Solvent and carrier for other ingredients.
Concerns: None.
Notes: The primary base of most cosmetic formulas.
🧪 Propylene Glycol / 丙二醇
Purpose: Humectant and solvent to retain moisture and improve absorption.
Concerns: Can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in individuals with extremely sensitive skin.
Notes: Helps active ingredients penetrate the skin better.
🧪 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate / 月桂醇硫酸酯钠
Purpose: Surfactant and cleansing agent that creates lather and removes oil and dirt.
Concerns: Known to be quite harsh and drying; can strip the skin barrier and cause irritation, especially for sensitive or dry skin.
Notes: Commonly referred to as SLS. Often paired with fatty alcohols in gentle formulas to reduce irritation.
🧪 Cetyl Alcohol / 鲸蜡醇
Purpose: Fatty alcohol used as an emollient, thickener, and emulsion stabilizer.
Concerns: May be mildly comedogenic (pore-clogging) for acne-prone skin types.
Notes: Non-drying alcohol that leaves a smooth, soft feel on the skin.
🧪 Stearyl Alcohol / 硬脂醇
Purpose: Fatty alcohol used to condition the skin, stabilize emulsions, and increase viscosity.
Concerns: May have a low potential to clog pores in acne-prone individuals.
Notes: A beneficial, hydrating fatty alcohol unlike drying simple alcohols.
🧪 Phenoxyethanol / 苯氧乙醇
Purpose: Broad-spectrum preservative used to prevent microbial growth and spoilage.
Concerns: Can cause mild skin or eye irritation in rare cases, restricted to concentrations under 1%.
Notes: Commonly used as a safer alternative to parabens.
🧪 Hydroxyacetophenone / 对羟基苯乙酮
Purpose: Preservative booster and antioxidant that helps stabilize the formulation and soothe skin.
Concerns: Generally considered very safe with low risk of irritation.
Notes: Frequently used to reduce the amount of traditional preservatives needed.
🧪 Sodium Hydroxide / 氢氧化钠
Purpose: Alkaline pH adjuster used to balance the acidity of the product.
Concerns: Highly corrosive in its pure form, but completely safe and neutralized in finished cosmetic formulations.
Notes: Used in very small amounts to ensure the product matches the natural pH of the skin.