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Etude House aware pH Balancing Micellar Cleansing Water
Etude House

Etude House aware pH Balancing Micellar Cleansing Water

Efficacy100/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-6 caprylate, Polyglyceryl-10 laurate
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“aware pH Balancing Micellar Cleansing Water”
Source: Yesstyle

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (polyglyceryl-10 laurate, polyglyceryl-6 caprylate) 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.

Polyglyceryl-6 caprylateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~3.2–4.8%
Polyglyceryl-10 laurateEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together~1.9–2.8%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
1 strong irritant: Alcohol
Medium risk
We flagged 8 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
AlcoholCan be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial propertiesHigh~0.2–0.75%est.
Polyglyceryl-6 caprylateHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~3.2–4.8%est.
1,2-hexanediolA preservativeMedium~0.85–1.3%est.
Polyglyceryl-10 laurateHelps water and oil mix togetherMedium~1.9–2.8%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~0.95–1.4%est.
MadecassosideAn antioxidant that is typically derived from plant Centella Asiatica. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin and support skin barrier function. It could, however, itself be irritating. It is often unstable in formulationsMedium~0.55–1.3%est.
Disodium edtaStabilizes the product formulationMedium~0.01–0.05%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.01–0.05%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged
Alternatives
Cheaper, or higher on efficacy
Low pH Niacinamide Micellar Cleansing Water
COSRX Low pH Niacinamide Micellar Cleansing Water
Cheaper60% match
$9.99
Balanceful Cica Cleansing Gel
the Torriden Store Balanceful Cica Cleansing Gel
Cheaper50% match
$4.11
View all alternatives

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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
Butylene glycol~5.7–8.6%
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
Polyglyceryl-6 caprylate~3.2–4.8%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Polyglyceryl-6 caprylate
1,2-hexanediol~0.85–1.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about 1,2-hexanediol
Polyglyceryl-10 laurate~1.9–2.8%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

More about Polyglyceryl-10 laurate
Panthenol~1.4–2.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Reduces rednessMoisturizingReduces irritation

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function

More about Panthenol
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.95–1.4%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Madecassoside~0.55–1.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-agingEvens skin tone

An antioxidant that is typically derived from plant Centella Asiatica. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin and support skin barrier function. It could, however, itself be irritating. It is often unstable in formulations

More about Madecassoside
Glycerin~0.5–1.1%
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
Alcohol~0.2–0.75%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Antibacterial

Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties

More about Alcohol
Tocopherol~0.1–0.45%
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
Sodium hyaluronate~0.05–0.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin

More about Sodium hyaluronate
Disodium edta~0.01–0.05%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Stabilizes the product formulation

More about Disodium edta
Citric acid~0.01–0.05%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

More about Citric acid
Ingredient list view

Water, Butylene glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 caprylate, 1,2-hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 laurate, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Madecassoside, Glycerin, Alcohol, Tocopherol, Sodium hyaluronate, Disodium edta, Citric acid

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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
Etude Houseaware pH Balancing Micellar Cleansing WaterYOUR PRODUCTCOSRXLow pH Niacinamide Micellar Cleansing WaterLeadersCalming Biotics Gel Cleanserthe Torriden StoreBalanceful Cica Cleansing Gel
Match—60%52%50%
Price—$9.99$22.00$4.11
Shared key ingredients—3 of 63 of 63 of 6
Key difference—NiacinamideMadecassic AcidCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Irritancy Medium Low Medium Medium
Drying alcohol Contains 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 16 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    The influence of alkane chain length on the skin irritation potential of 1,2-alkanediolsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    In Vitro Assessment of Skin Irritation Potential of Surfactant-based Formulations by Using a 3-D Skin Reconstructed Tissue Model and Cytokine Responseresearchgate.net
  3. 3
    Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulationspdfs.semanticscholar.org
  4. 4
    Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
  5. 5
    Centella asiatica in Dermatology: An Overviewonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  6. 6
    Protective effect of madecassoside on H2O2-induced oxidative stress and autophagy activation in human melanocytesncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Etude House aware pH Balancing Micellar Cleansing Water
Etude Houseaware pH Balancing Micellar Cleansing Water
Find on Amazon

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

Find on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.