SYS Micellar Cleansing Milk

SYS Micellar Cleansing Milk

Efficacy100/100IrritancyHigh

Works for

Cleansing
Glyceryl stearate citrate, Decyl glucoside + 4 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“Micellar Cleansing Milk”
From product name

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (cetearyl alcohol, coco-glucoside, decyl glucoside, glyceryl oleate, glyceryl stearate citrate, 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-glucoside, decyl glucoside, glyceryl oleate

Glyceryl stearate citrateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together while softening the upper layer of the skin~1.8–2.7%
Decyl glucosideEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating~1.4–2.1%
Cetearyl alcoholEffect: HighA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture~0.95–1.45%
Glyceryl oleateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating~0.55–1.25%
Coco-glucosideEffect: HighUsed as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating~0.5–1.2%
Xanthan gumEffect: HighUsed to create a thicker product consistency~0.4–0.9%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
3 strong irritants: Parfum, Alcohol + 1 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 12 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Decyl glucosideHelps oil and water mix together. Can be irritatingHigh~1.4–2.1%est.
Glyceryl oleateHelps oil and water mix together. Can be irritatingHigh~0.55–1.25%est.
Coco-glucosideUsed as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritatingHigh~0.5–1.2%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.35–0.8%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~0.15–0.55%est.
Zingiber officinale root extractA plant extract that can contain an irritating essential oil. Might have some anti-oxidant effect, but evidence is lackingHigh~0.05–0.15%est.
Ascorbic acidThe most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of agingHigh~0.05–0.15%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.35–0.75%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~0.2–0.75%est.
Lactic acidAn exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)Medium~0.15–0.5%est.
Caprylic/capric triglycerideA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerinMedium~0.15–0.6%est.
Ascorbyl palmitateBeing a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable and can penetrate the skin better than L-Ascorbic acid. It is effective in protecting the skin from free radicals, as well as evening the skin tone, but is less effective in stimulating collagen production compared to L-Ascorbic acid.Medium~0.05–0.25%est.
Comedogenic
3 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
3 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
Decyl oleateHelps soften the upper layer of the skin2/5~4.7–7.1%est.
Zea mays germ oil—2/5~1.5–2.3%est.
Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture2/5~0.95–1.45%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
Decyl oleate~4.7–7.1%
Comedogenic 2/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Decyl oleate
Glycerin~3.8–5.6%
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
Helianthus annuus seed oil~2.9–4.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function

More about Helianthus annuus seed oil
Lactococcus ferment lysate~2.1–3.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-agingAnti-inflammatory

Consists of remains of dead bacteria cells. Is likely helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin. Might be helpful in reducing inflammation and neutralizing free radicals in skin

More about Lactococcus ferment lysate
Glyceryl stearate citrate~1.8–2.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together while softening the upper layer of the skin

More about Glyceryl stearate citrate
Zea mays germ oil~1.5–2.3%
Comedogenic 2/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
2/5
More about Zea mays germ oil
Decyl glucoside~1.4–2.1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating

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

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Cetearyl alcohol~0.95–1.45%
Comedogenic 2/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture

More about Cetearyl alcohol
Glyceryl oleate~0.55–1.25%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating

More about Glyceryl oleate
Coco-glucoside~0.5–1.2%
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
Xanthan gum~0.4–0.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum
Parfum~0.35–0.8%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Citric acid~0.35–0.75%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

More about Citric acid
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.2–0.75%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Bisabolol~0.15–0.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-inflammatoryReduces irritationAnti-oxidation

An active component of chamomile plant that historically has been used to calm down irritated skin. A recent study shows that bisabolol indeed can have some anti-inflammatory effect on skin, even though conclusive data is lacking. Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent and can be added to products for its aromatic properties

More about Bisabolol
Alcohol~0.15–0.55%
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
Lactic acid~0.15–0.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Evens skin toneMoisturizingExfoliationAnti-aging

An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)

More about Lactic acid
Caprylic/capric triglyceride~0.15–0.6%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin

More about Caprylic/capric triglyceride
Sodium chloride~0.1–0.45%
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~0.1–0.35%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative

More about Sodium benzoate
Ascorbyl palmitate~0.05–0.25%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-agingAnti-oxidation

Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable and can penetrate the skin better than L-Ascorbic acid. It is effective in protecting the skin from free radicals, as well as evening the skin tone, but is less effective in stimulating collagen production compared to L-Ascorbic acid.

More about Ascorbyl palmitate
Zingiber officinale root extract~0.05–0.15%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-oxidation

A plant extract that can contain an irritating essential oil. Might have some anti-oxidant effect, but evidence is lacking

More about Zingiber officinale root extract
Ascorbic acid~0.05–0.15%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Evens skin toneAnti-agingAnti-oxidation

The most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of aging

More about Ascorbic acid
Ingredient list view

Water, Decyl oleate, Glycerin, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Lactococcus ferment lysate, Glyceryl stearate citrate, Zea mays germ oil, Decyl glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl alcohol, Glyceryl oleate, Coco-glucoside, Xanthan gum, Parfum, Citric acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bisabolol, Alcohol, Lactic acid, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Sodium chloride, Sodium benzoate, Ascorbyl palmitate, Zingiber officinale root extract, Ascorbic acid

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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
SYSMicellar Cleansing MilkYOUR PRODUCTMDOThe CleanserMDO by Simon Ourian MDD. The CleanserAdorn CosmeticsNatural Soothing Cleansing Milk | Refillable
Match—39%39%35%
Price——$25.40—
Shared key ingredients—7 of 117 of 116 of 11
Key difference—PanthenolPanthenolNiacinamide
Irritancy High Medium Medium Medium
Drying alcohol Contains drying alcohol Contains drying alcohol Contains drying alcohol —
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