ESPA Invigorating Facewash

ESPA Invigorating Facewash

Efficacy75/100IrritancyHigh

Works for

Cleansing
Coco-glucoside, Polysorbate 20 + 1 more
Can be harsh
What the product description says
“A refreshing foaming facial wash to deeply cleanse and purify while leaving skin feeling soft, supple and comfortable.”
Source: Recreate Yourself

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin.

The following cleansing agents are typically mild, but still can cause an irritation or allergy for some people coco-glucoside.

Keep in mind that cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.

Coco-glucosideEffect: HighUsed as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating~8.8–10.8%
Polysorbate 20Effect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~3–3.6%
Olive oil polyglyceryl-6 estersEffect: High~2.4–2.9%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
12 strong irritants: Lavandula hybrida oil, Citrus limon peel oil + 10 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 16 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Coco-glucosideUsed as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritatingHigh~8.8–10.8%est.
Lavandula hybrida oilPlant extract that can be irritating and is a known allergenHigh~0.6–0.9%est.
Citrus limon peel oilA highly irritating fragranceHigh~0.45–0.7%est.
LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.4–0.6%est.
LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.25–0.5%est.
Cymbopogon flexuosus oil—High~0.25–0.45%est.
CitralA fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritantHigh~0.2–0.35%est.
Mentha arvensis leaf oilUsed as a fragrance and can be irritatingHigh~0.2–0.4%est.
Cymbopogon nardus oil—High~0.15–0.3%est.
Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oilA plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that can irritate the skin. Can be used as a fragrance. Has anti-bacterial properties and might help neutralize free radicals on the surface of the skinHigh~0.15–0.3%est.
Citrus aurantifolia oil—High~0.2–0.35%est.
GeraniolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.2%est.
Thymus vulgaris flower/leaf oil—High~0.1–0.2%est.
Leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrateA preservative that comes from radishes fermented by a bacteria. New research suggests that the preservation properties in the ingredient come from an ammonium salt that is not present naturally in radish root but used in its cultivation. Is problematic because the exact amount of the preservative agents is difficult to determineMedium~1.6–2%est.
Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~1.5–1.8%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.7–1%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~45–55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Coco-glucoside~8.8–10.8%
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
Sodium cocoyl hydrolyzed oat protein~4.4–5.4%
Formula
Polysorbate 20~3–3.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Polysorbate 20
Olive oil polyglyceryl-6 esters~2.4–2.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Olive oil polyglyceryl-6 esters
Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate~1.6–2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative that comes from radishes fermented by a bacteria. New research suggests that the preservation properties in the ingredient come from an ammonium salt that is not present naturally in radish root but used in its cultivation. Is problematic because the exact amount of the preservative agents is difficult to determine

More about Leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate
Caprylyl glycol~1.5–1.8%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol
Xylitylglucoside~1.2–1.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and repair the skin barrier function

More about Xylitylglucoside
Anhydroxylitol~0.95–1.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and repair the skin barrir function

More about Anhydroxylitol
Citric acid~0.7–1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

More about Citric acid
Lavandula hybrida oil~0.6–0.9%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Plant extract that can be irritating and is a known allergen

More about Lavandula hybrida oil
Xylitol~0.5–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and repair the skin barrier function

More about Xylitol
Citrus limon peel oil~0.45–0.7%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A highly irritating fragrance

More about Citrus limon peel oil
Allantoin~0.4–0.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-inflammatoryMoisturizingAnti-blemishReduces rednessReduces irritationExfoliation

Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated

More about Allantoin
Limonene~0.4–0.6%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

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

More about Limonene
Butylene glycol~0.4–0.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Butylene glycol
Linalool~0.25–0.5%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Linalool
Cymbopogon flexuosus oil~0.25–0.45%
Irritant · high
Citral~0.2–0.35%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritant

More about Citral
Mentha arvensis leaf oil~0.2–0.4%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Used as a fragrance and can be irritating

More about Mentha arvensis leaf oil
Cymbopogon nardus oil~0.15–0.3%
Irritant · high
Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil~0.15–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
AntibacterialAnti-oxidation

A plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that can irritate the skin. Can be used as a fragrance. Has anti-bacterial properties and might help neutralize free radicals on the surface of the skin

More about Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil
Citrus aurantifolia oil~0.2–0.35%
Irritant · high
Geraniol~0.1–0.2%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Geraniol
Thymus vulgaris flower/leaf oil~0.1–0.2%
Irritant · high
Glucose~0.05–0.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Could be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function

More about Glucose
Ingredient list view

Water, Coco-glucoside, Sodium cocoyl hydrolyzed oat protein, Polysorbate 20, Olive oil polyglyceryl-6 esters, Phenoxyethanol, Leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, Caprylyl glycol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Citric acid, Lavandula hybrida oil, Xylitol, Citrus limon peel oil, Allantoin, Limonene, Butylene glycol, Linalool, Cymbopogon flexuosus oil, Citral, Mentha arvensis leaf oil, Cymbopogon nardus oil, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil, Citrus aurantifolia oil, Geraniol, Thymus vulgaris flower/leaf oil, Glucose

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Dermstore150 ml
$33.25 Out of stock
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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
ESPAInvigorating FacewashYOUR PRODUCTBiodermaAtoderm Shower GelDoréLa MicellaireKate SomervilleDeliKate Soothing Cleanser
Match—52%49%49%
Price—$7.52$28.00$13.42
Shared key ingredients—3 of 62 of 62 of 6
Key difference—NiacinamideGlycerinCeramide Ap
Irritancy High Medium Medium Medium
Drying alcohol————
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 11 studies and safety reviews.

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ESPA Invigorating Facewash
ESPAInvigorating Facewash

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.