Shiseido Complete Cleansing Microfoam

Shiseido Complete Cleansing Microfoam

Efficacy37/100IrritancyHigh

Works for

Cleansing
Sodium laureth sulfate, Cocamidopropyl betaine + 2 more
Can be harsh
What the product description says
“Shiseido's Complete Cleansing Microfoam is a rich cleansing foam that removes makeup and impurities while moisturizing skin.”
Source: Ulta

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

It contains the following cleansing agents that tend to be harsh on the skin: sodium laureth sulfate.

The following cleansing agents are typically mild, but still can cause an irritation or allergy for some people cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate.

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.

Sodium laureth sulfateEffect: HighWorks as a foaming cleansing agent~4.6–7%
Cocamidopropyl betaineEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen~3.8–5.7%
Peg-8 glyceryl isostearateEffect: High~2–3%
Sodium methyl cocoyl taurateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together. Can be used as cleansing agent~1.3–1.9%
Exfoliation
No ingredient credited for this claim
Not delivered
What the product description says
“Hamamelis Extract gently polishes and refines the skin, leaving behind a thoroughly cleansed, clarified and hydrated visage.”
Source: Lookfantastic

This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
5 strong irritants: Alcohol denat., Parfum + 3 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 15 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Sodium laureth sulfateWorks as a foaming cleansing agentHigh~4.6–7%est.
Cocamidopropyl betaineHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergenHigh~3.8–5.7%est.
Sodium methyl cocoyl taurateHelps oil and water mix together. Can be used as cleansing agentHigh~1.3–1.9%est.
Alcohol denat.Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve productsHigh~0.5–1.15%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.2–0.75%est.
LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.35%est.
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~0.1–0.3%est.
Hamamelis virginiana leaf extractA plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.2%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~1.4–2.1%est.
TriethylhexanoinHelps soften the upper layer of the skinMedium~1.1–1.6%est.
Sodium citrateHelps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve productsMedium~0.4–0.95%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.15–0.65%est.
Disodium edtaStabilizes the product formulationMedium~0.15–0.55%est.
BhtA preservativeMedium~0.1–0.45%est.
Hydrolyzed silkCan help attract water to the upper layer of the skinMedium~0.01–0.1%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
Sodium laureth sulfateWorks as a foaming cleansing agent2/5~4.6–7%est.

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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~3.9–5.8%
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 laureth sulfate~4.6–7%
Comedogenic 2/5Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
Cleansing

Works as a foaming cleansing agent

More about Sodium laureth sulfate
Cocamidopropyl betaine~3.8–5.7%
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
Peg-8 glyceryl isostearate~2–3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Peg-8 glyceryl isostearate
Peg/ppg-14/7 dimethyl ether~1.7–2.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin. It also forms a protective on its surface to reduce water loss

More about Peg/ppg-14/7 dimethyl ether
Ethylhexylglycerin~1.4–2.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Triethylhexanoin~1.1–1.6%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Triethylhexanoin
Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate~1.3–1.9%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together. Can be used as cleansing agent

More about Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate
Butylene glycol~0.8–1.25%
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
Alcohol denat.~0.5–1.15%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

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

More about Alcohol denat.
Sodium citrate~0.4–0.95%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve products

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

A preservative

More about Sodium benzoate
Phenoxyethanol~0.3–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Parfum~0.2–0.75%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Citric acid~0.15–0.65%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

More about Citric acid
Disodium edta~0.15–0.55%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Stabilizes the product formulation

More about Disodium edta
Bht~0.1–0.45%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Bht
Linalool~0.1–0.35%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Linalool
Oryza sativa germ oil~0.1–0.45%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing
More about Oryza sativa germ oil
Alcohol~0.1–0.3%
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~0.05–0.3%
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
Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract~0.05–0.2%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-inflammatory

A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating

More about Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract
Betaine~0.05–0.15%
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
Hydrolyzed silk~0.01–0.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Hydrolyzed silk
Ingredient list view

Water, Glycerin, Sodium laureth sulfate, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Peg-8 glyceryl isostearate, Peg/ppg-14/7 dimethyl ether, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethylhexanoin, Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, Butylene glycol, Alcohol denat., Sodium citrate, Sodium benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Citric acid, Disodium edta, Bht, Linalool, Oryza sativa germ oil, Alcohol, Tocopherol, Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract, Betaine, Hydrolyzed silk

Compare prices

Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.

SpaceNK US
$35.00 Out of stock
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Amazon USPrice as of 11/5 18:18 GMT
$39.00
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Ulta6 oz
$40.00
Buy

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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
ShiseidoComplete Cleansing MicrofoamYOUR PRODUCTMesoesteticBrightening FoamPharmacerisA - Puri-Sensilium Soothing FoamISDINAcniben Teen Klärender Reinigungsschaum
Match—40%40%40%
Price$40.00$30.72−$9.28$17.99−$22.01—
Shared key ingredients—3 of 73 of 73 of 7
Key difference—Glycolic AcidPanthenolNiacinamide
Irritancy High Medium Low 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 7 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
    Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. 6
    Vitamin E and Skin Healthlpi.oregonstate.edu
Shiseido Complete Cleansing Microfoam
ShiseidoComplete Cleansing Microfoam

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