Is Elderflower Hand Wash Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Cien
Elderflower Hand Wash is one of the skincare products analyzed by Zerotox for Cien. The product scores 60/100 in Zerotox, meaning it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
The sections below explain why ingredients like Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance affect the overall evaluation.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes sodium benzoate as a synthetic preservative and several colorants like CI 17200 and CI 42090, indicating a processed formulation with quality concerns.
Main concern
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a surfactant that can be harsh on sensitive skin.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Contains glycerin, a humectant that helps retain moisture in the skin.
- Tocopherol (Vitamin E) is included, known for its antioxidant properties.
Concerns
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a surfactant that can be harsh on sensitive skin.
- Presence of synthetic colorants CI 17200 and CI 42090 raises concerns about potential skin irritation.
Who should avoid this product?
This product may be less suitable for:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- users trying to avoid sulfates
Ingredients breakdown
Instead of a flat list, this section explains each ingredient in the context of this skincare.
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Is Water safe in this skincare?
Good
Water is used here as base. Water serves as the primary solvent in this formulation, providing a medium for other ingredients.
Role in formula: base
Original: Aqua
-
Is Sodium Laureth Sulfate safe in this skincare?
Bad
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is used here as surfactant. Sodium laureth sulfate is a common surfactant that effectively cleans but can be irritating to the skin, especially for sensitive individuals.
Role in formula: surfactant
Original: Sodium Laureth Sulfate
-
Is Cocamidopropyl Betaine safe in this skincare?
Medium
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is used here as surfactant. Cocamidopropyl betaine is a milder surfactant derived from coconut oil, used to reduce irritation from harsher surfactants.
Role in formula: surfactant
Original: Cocamidopropyl Betaine
-
Is Sodium Chloride safe in this skincare?
Medium
Sodium Chloride is used here as thickener. Sodium chloride is used to adjust the viscosity of the product, but it can also be drying to the skin in high concentrations.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Sodium Chloride
-
Is Glycerin safe in this skincare?
Good
Glycerin is used here as humectant. Glycerin is a well-known humectant that attracts moisture to the skin, enhancing hydration and skin feel.
Role in formula: humectant
Original: Glycerin
-
Is Peg 7 Glyceryl Cocoate safe in this skincare?
Medium
Peg 7 Glyceryl Cocoate is used here as emulsifier. PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate acts as an emulsifier, helping to blend oil and water components, but raises concerns due to its synthetic nature.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: PEG-7 Glycervl Cocoate
-
Is Sodium Benzoate safe in this skincare?
Bad
Sodium Benzoate is used here as preservative. Sodium benzoate is a synthetic preservative used to prevent microbial growth, but its synthetic nature raises quality concerns.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: Sodium Benzoate
-
Is Citric Acid safe in this skincare?
Good
Citric Acid is used here as acidulant. Citric acid is used to adjust pH and can act as a mild preservative, contributing positively to product stability.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: Citric Acid
-
Is Fragrance safe in this skincare?
Bad
Fragrance is used here as fragrance. Fragrance is included for scent but can cause allergic reactions or irritation in sensitive individuals.
Role in formula: fragrance
Original: Parfum
-
Is Cocamide Mea safe in this skincare?
Medium
Cocamide Mea is used here as surfactant. Cocamide MEA is derived from coconut oil and used to enhance foam and viscosity, but it may cause irritation in some users.
Role in formula: surfactant
Original: Cocamide MEA
-
Is Potassium Sorbate safe in this skincare?
Medium
Potassium Sorbate is used here as preservative. Potassium sorbate is a mild preservative that helps prevent spoilage, but it is still a synthetic additive.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: Potassium Sorbate
-
Is Lanolin Alcohol safe in this skincare?
Medium
Lanolin Alcohol is used here as emollient. Lanolin alcohol is derived from lanolin and acts as an emollient, providing moisture but may cause sensitivity in some individuals.
Role in formula: emollient
Original: Lanolin Alcohol
-
Is Peg 120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate safe in this skincare?
Medium
Peg 120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate is used here as emulsifier. PEG-120 methyl glucose dioleate is used as an emulsifier to stabilize the formulation, but its synthetic nature raises concerns.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Read the full ingredient profile for Peg 120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
-
Is Ci 17200 safe in this skincare?
Bad
Ci 17200 is used here as colorant. CI 17200 is a synthetic colorant that can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, raising safety concerns.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: CI 17200
-
Is Ci 42090 safe in this skincare?
Bad
Ci 42090 is used here as colorant. CI 42090 is another synthetic colorant that may pose risks of irritation or allergic reactions, contributing to quality concerns.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: CI 42090
-
Is Tocopherol safe in this skincare?
Good
Tocopherol is used here as antioxidant. Tocopherol, or Vitamin E, is included for its antioxidant properties, which can help protect skin from oxidative stress.
Role in formula: antioxidant
Original: Tocopherol
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 4278135
More from this brand: Cien products in Zerotox
Similar products: skincare in Zerotox database
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.