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ESPA Balancing Foam Cleanser
ESPA

ESPA Balancing Foam Cleanser

Efficacy100/100IrritancyHigh
See all ingredients

Works for

Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl betaine, Coco-glucoside + 2 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“A naturally foaming face wash to deeply cleanse, balance natural oils and gently remove make-up and impurities without drying the skin.”
Source: Espa

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (cocamidopropyl betaine, coco-glucoside, olive oil polyglyceryl-6 esters, sodium cocoyl sarcosinate) 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: cocamidopropyl betaine, coco-glucoside

Cocamidopropyl betaineEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen~8.2–12.3%
Coco-glucosideEffect: HighUsed as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating~5.2–7.8%
Sodium cocoyl sarcosinateEffect: High~1.4–2.1%
Olive oil polyglyceryl-6 estersEffect: High~0.55–1.25%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
3 strong irritants: Citrus nobilis peel oil, Limonene + 1 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 9 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Cocamidopropyl betaineHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergenHigh~8.2–12.3%est.
Coco-glucosideUsed as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritatingHigh~5.2–7.8%est.
Citrus nobilis peel oilA plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that, especially when exposed to air, can cause allergic reactions and irritate the skinHigh~2.7–4%est.
LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~1.4–2.1%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.05–0.15%est.
Sodium cocoyl sarcosinate—Medium~1.4–2.1%est.
Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~1.1–1.7%est.
Sorbic acidA preservativeMedium~0.3–0.6%est.
Phytic acidAn alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), but is mostly used to stabilize product formulations in cosmeticsMedium~0.1–0.5%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Cocamidopropyl betaine~8.2–12.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen

More about Cocamidopropyl betaine
Coco-glucoside~5.2–7.8%
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
Citrus nobilis peel oil~2.7–4%
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 nobilis peel oil
Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Limonene~1.4–2.1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

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

More about Limonene
Sodium cocoyl sarcosinate~1.4–2.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing
More about Sodium cocoyl sarcosinate
Caprylyl glycol~1.1–1.7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol
Betaine~0.85–1.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture

More about Betaine
Olive oil polyglyceryl-6 esters~0.55–1.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Olive oil polyglyceryl-6 esters
Sorbic acid~0.3–0.6%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Sorbic acid
Yucca schidigera stem extract~0.35–0.85%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Yucca schidigera stem extract
Sodium benzoate~0.25–0.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative

More about Sodium benzoate
Phytic acid~0.1–0.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), but is mostly used to stabilize product formulations in cosmetics

More about Phytic acid
Sodium chloride~0.05–0.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

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

More about Sodium chloride
Parfum~0.05–0.15%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Ingredient list view

Water, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Coco-glucoside, Citrus nobilis peel oil, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Sodium cocoyl sarcosinate, Caprylyl glycol, Betaine, Olive oil polyglyceryl-6 esters, Sorbic acid, Yucca schidigera stem extract, Sodium benzoate, Phytic acid, Sodium chloride, Parfum

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Espa
$57.00
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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
ESPABalancing Foam CleanserYOUR PRODUCTCetaphilGentle Foaming Facial CleanserElizabeth ArdenCeramide Skin Renewing CleanserHerbal EssentialsFoaming Face Wash
Match—40%38%38%
Price$57.00$12.90−$44.10$26.68−$30.32$1.87−$55.13
Shared key ingredients—3 of 52 of 52 of 5
Key difference—PanthenolCeramide EopGlycerin
Irritancy High Low Medium Low
Drying alcohol————
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 7 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    In Vitro Assessment of Skin Irritation Potential of Surfactant-based Formulations by Using a 3-D Skin Reconstructed Tissue Model and Cytokine Responseresearchgate.net
  2. 2
    Allergen of the Year—Alkyl Glucosidepracticeupdate.com
  3. 3
    Safety Assessment of Citrus-Derived Peel Oils as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
  4. 4
    Oxidized citrus oil (R-limonene): A frequent skin sensitizer in Europesciencedirect.com
  5. 5
    Air oxidation increases skin irritation from fragrance terpenesonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  6. 6
    Cosmetic and dermatologic use of alpha hydroxy acidsonlinelibrary.wiley.com
ESPA Balancing Foam Cleanser
ESPABalancing Foam Cleanser
Buy at Espa$57.00Amazon

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Buy at Espa$57.00Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.