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Nivea Refreshing Face Wash
Nivea

Nivea Refreshing Face Wash

Efficacy100/100IrritancyMedium·100% recommend (1 review)
See all ingredients

Works for

Cleansing
Coco-glucoside, Coco-betaine + 2 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“NIVEA Refreshing Face Wash Gel is enriched with Aloe Vera and Hyaluronic Acid, known for effectively binding moisture within the skin.”
Source: Boots

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (coco-betaine, coco-glucoside, peg-7 glyceryl cocoate, xanthan gum) 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-betaine, coco-glucoside

Coco-glucosideEffect: HighUsed as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating~4.6–6.8%
Coco-betaineEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Can be allergenic~3.5–5.3%
Xanthan gumEffect: HighUsed to create a thicker product consistency~1.5–2.2%
Peg-7 glyceryl cocoateEffect: HighHelps oils and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent~0.35–0.8%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
2 strong irritants: Alcohol denat., Parfum
Medium risk
We flagged 10 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~4.6–6.8%est.
Coco-betaineHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Can be allergenicHigh~3.5–5.3%est.
Alcohol denat.Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve productsHigh~2–3%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.05–0.2%est.
Ci 16035A red dyeHigh~0.05–0.15%est.
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powderTraditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skinMedium~1.3–2%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.5–1.15%est.
Peg-7 glyceryl cocoateHelps oils and water mix together and works as a cleansing agentMedium~0.35–0.8%est.
Sodium sulfateUsed to improve the product consistency and stabilize formulationsMedium~0.15–0.65%est.
Ci 42090A colorant (dye)Medium~0.05–0.2%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Ci 16035A red dye3/5~0.05–0.15%est.

User reviews

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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
Glycerin~3.7–5.6%
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
Coco-glucoside~4.6–6.8%
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
Coco-betaine~3.5–5.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Can be allergenic

More about Coco-betaine
Alcohol denat.~2–3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products

More about Alcohol denat.
Xanthan gum~1.5–2.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder~1.3–2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin

More about Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder
Sodium hyaluronate~1.1–1.6%
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
Dehydroxanthan gum~0.9–1.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Helps create thicker product formulations and stabilize emulsions

More about Dehydroxanthan gum
Citric acid~0.5–1.15%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

More about Citric acid
Sodium chloride~0.45–1.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

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

More about Sodium chloride
Peg-7 glyceryl cocoate~0.35–0.8%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

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

More about Peg-7 glyceryl cocoate
Sodium sulfate~0.15–0.65%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Used to improve the product consistency and stabilize formulations

More about Sodium sulfate
Sodium benzoate~0.1–0.45%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative

More about Sodium benzoate
Parfum~0.05–0.2%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Ci 42090~0.05–0.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A colorant (dye)

More about Ci 42090
Ci 16035~0.05–0.15%
Comedogenic 3/5Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Comedogenicity
3/5

A red dye

More about Ci 16035
Ingredient list view

Water, Glycerin, Coco-glucoside, Coco-betaine, Alcohol denat., Xanthan gum, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder, Sodium hyaluronate, Dehydroxanthan gum, Citric acid, Sodium chloride, Peg-7 glyceryl cocoate, Sodium sulfate, Sodium benzoate, Parfum, Ci 42090, Ci 16035

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Amazon USPrice as of 11/14 09:24 GMT
$7.32
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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
NiveaRefreshing Face WashYOUR PRODUCTThe INKEY List CAGlycerin Gentle Purifying CleanserTypologyPurifying Face Gel Cleanser — 2% Zinc PCA + Bamboo ExtractEucerinDermatoCLEAN Refreshing Cleansing Gel
Match—42%41%41%
Price$7.32$19.00+$11.68$34.50+$27.18$13.39+$6.07
Shared key ingredients—3 of 64 of 64 of 6
Key difference—Centella Asiatica ExtractZinc PcaGlyceryl Glucoside
Irritancy Medium Low Medium Low
Drying alcohol Contains drying alcohol ———
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Product summary

Price

The product retails for 7.43CA$ in Canada, for 10.99A$ in Australia, for 24.00$ in the United States and from 3.79£ up to 9.42£ in the United Kingdom.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 6 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.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
    Allergen of the Year—Alkyl Glucosidepracticeupdate.com
  4. 4
    Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin agingncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. 5
    Hyaluronan (Hyaluronic Acid): a natural moisturizer for skin careresearchgate.net
  6. 6
    Amended Safety Assessment of Sodium Sulfate as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
Nivea Refreshing Face Wash
NiveaRefreshing Face Wash
Buy on Amazon$7.32 · as of 11/14 09:24 GMT

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

Buy on Amazon$7.32 · as of 11/14 09:24 GMT

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.