SkinCeuticals MicroExfoliating Cleanser

SkinCeuticals MicroExfoliating Cleanser

Efficacy37/100IrritancyLow

Works for

Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl betaine, Sodium laureth sulfate + 2 more
Can be harsh
What the product description says
“MicroExfoliating Cleanser”
Source: Skinceuticals

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.

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.

Cocamidopropyl betaineEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen~2.8–4.1%
Sodium laureth sulfateEffect: HighWorks as a foaming cleansing agent~1.8–2.8%
TriethanolamineEffect: HighUsed to adjust pH of the product and can help improve the product's smell~1.2–1.8%
CarbomerEffect: HighHelps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations~1–1.6%
Exfoliation
No ingredient credited for this claim
Not delivered
What the product description says
“MicroExfoliating Cleanser”
Source: Skinceuticals

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
9 flagged ingredients
Low risk
We flag 9 ingredients with irritancy potential; the product's overall irritancy is low. The table lists each ingredient's own rating.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Propylene glycolHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritatingHigh~3.5–5.3%est.
Cocamidopropyl betaineHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergenHigh~2.8–4.1%est.
Sodium laureth sulfateWorks as a foaming cleansing agentHigh~1.8–2.8%est.
TriethanolamineUsed to adjust pH of the product and can help improve the product's smellMedium~1.2–1.8%est.
ChlorphenesinA preservativeMedium~0.16–0.32%est.
Disodium edtaStabilizes the product formulationMedium~0.1–0.45%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~0.1–0.3%est.
Tocopheryl acetateA more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.Medium~0.05–0.2%est.
Aloe barbadensis leaf extractTraditionally 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~0.1–0.4%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 agent2/5~1.8–2.8%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
Hydrated silica~5.2–7.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Mattifying
More about Hydrated silica
Propylene glycol~3.5–5.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating

More about Propylene glycol
Glycerin~2.7–4%
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
Cocamidopropyl betaine~2.8–4.1%
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
Sodium laureth sulfate~1.8–2.8%
Comedogenic 2/5Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
Cleansing

Works as a foaming cleansing agent

More about Sodium laureth sulfate
Triethanolamine~1.2–1.8%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Used to adjust pH of the product and can help improve the product's smell

More about Triethanolamine
Carbomer~1–1.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations

More about Carbomer
Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Sodium chloride~0.5–1.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

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

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

A preservative

More about Sodium benzoate
Chlorphenesin~0.16–0.32%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

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

Stabilizes the product formulation

More about Disodium edta
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder~0.1–0.3%
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
Tocopheryl acetate~0.05–0.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-oxidation

A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.

More about Tocopheryl acetate
Aloe barbadensis leaf extract~0.1–0.4%
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 extract
Ingredient list view

Water, Hydrated silica, Propylene glycol, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Sodium laureth sulfate, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium chloride, Sodium benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Disodium edta, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder, Tocopheryl acetate, Aloe barbadensis leaf extract

Compare prices

Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.

Bluemercury
$40.00
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Skinceuticals
$40.00
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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
SkinCeuticalsMicroExfoliating CleanserYOUR PRODUCTKiehl'ss Ultra Facial CleanserNaturiumThe Calmer Ceramide Body WashpH formulaG.E.L. Cleanse | Gel Cleanser for Senstive Skin
Match—33%33%30%
Price$40.00$15.00−$25.00$14.13−$25.87$41.28+$1.28
Shared key ingredients—4 of 63 of 63 of 6
Key difference—Apricot Kernel OilCeramide EopLactic Acid
Irritancy Low Low Low Low
Drying alcohol————
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More alternatives: FOREO Micro-Foam CleanserThe INKEY List CA Glycerin Gentle Purifying Cleanser

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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 4 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
  2. 2
    Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
  4. 4
SkinCeuticals MicroExfoliating Cleanser
SkinCeuticalsMicroExfoliating Cleanser

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

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.