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Cowshed Hands Refresh Hand Wash
Cowshed

Cowshed Hands Refresh Hand Wash

Efficacy100/100IrritancyHigh
See all ingredients

Works for

Cleansing
Lauryl glucoside, Sodium cocoamphoacetate + 4 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“Hands Refresh Hand Wash”
From product name

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (coco-glucoside, glyceryl oleate, lauryl glucoside, sodium cocoamphoacetate, sodium cocoyl glutamate, sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate) and should be able to cleanse the skin gently. Still keep in mind that any cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.

Even though this formulation is mild, the following cleansing agents could trigger an irritation or allergy for some people: coco-glucoside, glyceryl oleate

Lauryl glucosideEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~7.9–9.7%
Sodium cocoamphoacetateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Creates foam~5.6–6.9%
Sodium cocoyl glutamateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~1.9–2.4%
Sodium lauryl glucose carboxylateEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together and works as a cleansing agent~1.7–2%
Coco-glucosideEffect: HighUsed as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating~0.65–1%
Glyceryl oleateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating~0.5–0.75%
Exfoliation
Side benefit · Gluconolactone
Works well

This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: gluconolactone.

GluconolactoneKey activeEffect: HighA polyhydroxy acid (PHA) that helps shed the dead cells from the skin surface revealing smoother skin. Is believed to be genter than AHAs. It helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can stimulate production of skin's own hyaluronic acid resulting in improved hydration levels. It has been shown to be helpful against acne and clogged pores if used consistently (e.g over a period of 12 weeks) in high enough concentration. It can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin tone with long-term application. Can help neutralize free radicals~1.4–1.7%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
9 strong irritants: Parfum, Lavandula angustifolia flower oil + 7 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 18 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.65–0.95%est.
Coco-glucosideUsed as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritatingHigh~0.65–1%est.
Glyceryl oleateHelps oil and water mix together. Can be irritatingHigh~0.5–0.75%est.
Isopropyl alcoholA drying alcohol. Can increase skin's sensitivity and cause dryness and irritationHigh~0.4–0.65%est.
Lavandula angustifolia flower oilA fragrant plant oil, can be irritatingHigh~0.4–0.6%est.
Citrus aurantium amara leaf/twig oil—High~0.3–0.55%est.
Citrus grandis peel oilA plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that, especially when exposed to air, can cause allergic reactions and irritate the skinHigh~0.25–0.4%est.
LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.1–0.25%est.
LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.2%est.
GeraniolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.1%est.
HydroxycitronellalA fragrance. A likely allergen and can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.1%est.
Hexyl cinnamalA fragrance with jasmine smell. A likely irritantHigh~0.05%est.
Lauryl glucosideHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~7.9–9.7%est.
Sodium cocoamphoacetateHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Creates foamMedium~5.6–6.9%est.
Sodium cocoyl glutamateHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~1.9–2.4%est.
Sodium lauryl glucose carboxylateHelps water and oil mix together and works as a cleansing agentMedium~1.7–2%est.
GluconolactoneA polyhydroxy acid (PHA) that helps shed the dead cells from the skin surface revealing smoother skin. Is believed to be genter than AHAs. It helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can stimulate production of skin's own hyaluronic acid resulting in improved hydration levels. It has been shown to be helpful against acne and clogged pores if used consistently (e.g over a period of 12 weeks) in high enough concentration. It can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin tone with long-term application. Can help neutralize free radicalsMedium~1.4–1.7%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~1.1–1.4%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged
Alternatives
The closest match we found
Reve de Miel Make-up Removing Gel
NUXE Reve de Miel Make-up Removing Gel
Closest match53% match
$13.62
View all alternatives

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~45–55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Lauryl glucoside~7.9–9.7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Lauryl glucoside
Sodium cocoamphoacetate~5.6–6.9%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Creates foam

More about Sodium cocoamphoacetate
Glycerin~3–3.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Sodium chloride~2.3–2.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures

More about Sodium chloride
Sodium cocoyl glutamate~1.9–2.4%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Sodium cocoyl glutamate
Sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate~1.7–2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together and works as a cleansing agent

More about Sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate
Gluconolactone~1.4–1.7%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
ExfoliationMoisturizingAnti-agingEvens skin toneAnti-oxidationAnti-blemish

A polyhydroxy acid (PHA) that helps shed the dead cells from the skin surface revealing smoother skin. Is believed to be genter than AHAs. It helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can stimulate production of skin's own hyaluronic acid resulting in improved hydration levels. It has been shown to be helpful against acne and clogged pores if used consistently (e.g over a period of 12 weeks) in high enough concentration. It can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin tone with long-term application. Can help neutralize free radicals

More about Gluconolactone
Citric acid~1.1–1.4%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH

More about Citric acid
Sodium benzoate~0.25–0.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative

More about Sodium benzoate
Parfum~0.65–0.95%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Coco-glucoside~0.65–1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Used as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating

More about Coco-glucoside
Glyceryl oleate~0.5–0.75%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating

More about Glyceryl oleate
Isopropyl alcohol~0.4–0.65%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A drying alcohol. Can increase skin's sensitivity and cause dryness and irritation

More about Isopropyl alcohol
Lavandula angustifolia flower oil~0.4–0.6%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrant plant oil, can be irritating

More about Lavandula angustifolia flower oil
Citrus aurantium amara leaf/twig oil~0.3–0.55%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
More about Citrus aurantium amara leaf/twig oil
Citrus grandis peel oil~0.25–0.4%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that, especially when exposed to air, can cause allergic reactions and irritate the skin

More about Citrus grandis peel oil
Calcium gluconate~0.25–0.45%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and helps to improve appearance of the product

More about Calcium gluconate
Hydrogenated palm glycerides citrate~0.25–0.45%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Hydrogenated palm glycerides citrate
Tocopherol~0.15–0.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-oxidationMoisturizingAnti-inflammatoryAnti-aging

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol
Limonene~0.1–0.25%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat

More about Limonene
Linalool~0.1–0.2%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Linalool
Geraniol~0.05–0.1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Geraniol
Hydroxycitronellal~0.05–0.1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. A likely allergen and can be irritating

More about Hydroxycitronellal
Hexyl cinnamal~0.05%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance with jasmine smell. A likely irritant

More about Hexyl cinnamal
Ingredient list view

Water, Lauryl glucoside, Sodium cocoamphoacetate, Glycerin, Sodium chloride, Sodium cocoyl glutamate, Sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate, Gluconolactone, Citric acid, Sodium benzoate, Parfum, Coco-glucoside, Glyceryl oleate, Isopropyl alcohol, Lavandula angustifolia flower oil, Citrus aurantium amara leaf/twig oil, Citrus grandis peel oil, Calcium gluconate, Hydrogenated palm glycerides citrate, Tocopherol, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Hexyl cinnamal

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
CowshedHands Refresh Hand WashYOUR PRODUCTNUXEReve de Miel Make-up Removing GelCosMedixBenefit CleanULTARenewed Reality Cleansing Wipes
Match—53%45%45%
Price—$13.62$43.00—
Shared key ingredients—8 of 86 of 85 of 8
Key difference—AllantoinSodium Coco-Glucoside TartratePolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Irritancy High Medium High Medium
Drying alcohol Contains drying alcohol ———
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 20 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Safety Assessment of Amino Acid Alkyl Amides as Used in Cosmeticsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Irritant and sensitizing potential of eight surfactants commonly used in skin cleansers: an evaluation of 105 patientsjournals.lww.com
  4. 4
    A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acnencbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. 5
    The Polyhydroxy Acid Gluconolactone Protects Against Ultraviolet Radiation in an In Vitro Model of Cutaneous Photoagingonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  6. 6
    Applications of hydroxy acids: classification, mechanisms, and photoactivityncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Cowshed Hands Refresh Hand Wash
CowshedHands Refresh Hand Wash
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As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.