Below is every ingredient in Clinique For Men Oil Control Face Wash explained, its standout actives, and the side effects reported in research for those actives — analysed for Indian skin.
Flags derived from the ingredient list using dermatology reference data (fungal-acne substrate, comedogenicity, EU allergens). General guidance, not a diagnosis.
Answers are derived from the printed ingredient list and dermatology reference data — general guidance, not a diagnosis or a therapeutic claim.
Menthol is a naturally occurring or synthetic compound derived from mint oils that produces a cooling sensation by activating TRPM8 receptors on the skin. It is used in topical products for its soothing, mild analgesic, and antipruritic effects.
Aggregated from the active ingredients in this product.
| Reported effect | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Skin dryness and barrier disruption | Common | Can strip natural lipids with frequent or prolonged use, especially in high concentrations |
| Mild skin or eye irritation | Common | Stinging or redness on contact, particularly in sensitive individuals or leave-on products |
| Worsening of existing dermatitis/eczema | Uncommon | May aggravate compromised skin barriers in atopic conditions |
| Allergic contact dermatitis | Rare | True sensitization is uncommon; reactions sometimes attributed to residual impurities |
| Concerns regarding 1,4-dioxane contamination | Rare | A trace by-product of ethoxylation; controlled by manufacturing purification standards |
| Skin or scalp irritation | Uncommon | Generally well tolerated; mild stinging or redness possible, especially in leave-on or high-concentration use. |
| Eye irritation | Uncommon | Can cause transient stinging if cleanser contacts the eyes. |
| Skin or eye irritation | Uncommon | Generally mild; more likely at higher concentrations or in leave-on or sensitive-eye applications. |
| Mucosal or scalp stinging | Rare | Transient and typically resolves on rinsing. |
| Skin dryness or tightness | Uncommon | High concentrations may have a mild osmotic drying effect, especially on compromised skin. |
| Irritation or stinging on broken skin | Uncommon | Salt can sting when applied to abrasions, cuts, or inflamed areas. |
| Mechanical irritation from scrub formulations | Rare | Coarse salt particles in exfoliants may cause microabrasions if used aggressively. |
| Allergic contact reaction | Very rare | True allergy to sodium chloride is exceptionally uncommon. |
| Skin dryness | Uncommon | As with most surfactants, may contribute to dryness with frequent use. |
| Nitrosamine formation concern | Very rare | Theoretical concern if formulated with nitrosating agents; modern formulations avoid this. |
Frequencies reflect typical cosmetic use reported in the literature, not a guarantee for your skin.
| Ingredient | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sodium Laureth Sulfate Surfactant/cleansing agent | Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is an anionic surfactant widely used as a foaming and cleansing agent in shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers. It is generally considered milder than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate due to ethoxylation. |
| Lauramidopropyl Betaine Amphoteric surfactant / co-surfactant | Lauramidopropyl Betaine is a mild amphoteric surfactant derived from coconut oil, used in cleansers and shampoos to boost foam, cleanse, and reduce the irritancy of harsher anionic surfactants. It also functions as a viscosity enhancer and conditioning agent. |
| Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine Amphoteric surfactant / cleansing agent | Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is a mild amphoteric surfactant derived from coconut fatty acids, used in cleansers, shampoos, and body washes to provide gentle foaming, cleansing, and foam-boosting properties. It is often combined with primary surfactants to reduce overall irritancy. |
| Sodium Chloride Thickener / viscosity adjuster | Sodium chloride (table salt) is commonly used in cosmetics as a thickening and viscosity-control agent, particularly in surfactant-based cleansers, and also acts as a mild abrasive in scrubs. It is generally well tolerated and considered a formulation ingredient rather than a treatment active. |
| Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate Surfactant/cleansing agent | Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate is a mild amino acid-derived anionic surfactant used in cleansers, shampoos, and foaming products to provide gentle cleansing and foam. It is generally considered milder than traditional sulfate surfactants. |
| Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate Mild anionic surfactant / cleansing agent | Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate is a triethanolamine salt of an amino-acid-derived (glutamic acid and coconut fatty acid) surfactant used in cleansers and washes for gentle foaming and emulsifying. It is valued for its mildness and skin-compatible pH compared with harsher sulfate surfactants. |
| Butylene Glycol Humectant / solvent | Butylene glycol is a small diol commonly used in skincare as a humectant, solvent, and viscosity-reducing agent that helps dissolve other ingredients and improve skin feel. It is widely regarded as safe and non-sensitizing for the majority of users at cosmetic concentrations. |
| Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Soothing/humectant | Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is a plant-derived ingredient used in skincare for its hydrating, soothing, and emollient properties, often included to calm irritation and improve skin moisture. It functions primarily as a base/conditioning agent rather than a targeted treatment active. |
| Sucrose Humectant / emollient | Sucrose is a sugar used in skincare primarily as a humectant that attracts and retains moisture, and as a mild physical exfoliant in scrub formulations. It also functions as a texture-enhancing and slip agent in cosmetic bases. |
| Hexylene Glycol Solvent / humectant | Hexylene glycol is a small glycol used in cosmetic formulations primarily as a solvent, viscosity-reducer, and mild humectant. It helps dissolve other ingredients and improve product texture rather than providing a direct therapeutic skin benefit. |
| Caprylyl Glycol Humectant / skin-conditioning agent and preservative booster | Caprylyl glycol is a multifunctional emollient and humectant derived from caprylic acid that helps hydrate skin and enhance the efficacy of preservatives in formulations. It is widely used as a stabilizing and conditioning base ingredient rather than a therapeutic active. |
| Sodium Sulfate Viscosity/formulation aid | Sodium sulfate is an inorganic salt used in cosmetic formulations primarily as a thickening, bulking, and viscosity-controlling agent. It is not a skin-active ingredient and has no significant therapeutic effect on skin conditions. |
| Polyquaternium-7 Conditioning/film-forming polymer | Polyquaternium-7 is a cationic synthetic copolymer used in skincare and hair care as a conditioning agent and film former, imparting smoothness, reducing static, and enhancing sensory feel. It is a formulation ingredient rather than a therapeutic active. |
| Laureth-2 Emulsifier/surfactant | Laureth-2 is a polyethylene glycol ether of lauryl alcohol used in skincare and cosmetic formulations primarily as a nonionic surfactant, emulsifier, and solubilizer. It helps blend oil and water phases and improve product texture rather than providing a direct therapeutic effect. |
| Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate Thickener/emulsifier | PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate is a polyethylene glycol-derived emollient and viscosity-building agent used in cleansers and surfactant systems to thicken formulations and provide a smooth, conditioned skin feel. It functions as a nonionic co-emulsifier and rheology modifier rather than a treatment active. |
| Menthol Key active Cooling agent / counterirritant | Menthol is a naturally occurring or synthetic compound derived from mint oils that produces a cooling sensation by activating TRPM8 receptors on the skin. It is used in topical products for its soothing, mild analgesic, and antipruritic effects. |
| Edta Chelating agent | EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is a chelating agent used in skincare formulations to bind metal ions, improving product stability, preventing discoloration, and enhancing the efficacy of preservatives. It is typically used at low concentrations as a formulation aid rather than as a therapeutic active. |
| Disodium Edta Chelating agent | Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent used in cosmetics to bind metal ions, improving product stability, preventing rancidity, and enhancing the efficacy of preservatives. It is a formulation/base ingredient rather than a treatment active. |
| Phenoxyethanol Preservative | Phenoxyethanol is a widely used broad-spectrum preservative that protects cosmetic and skincare formulations from bacterial and fungal contamination. It is typically used at concentrations up to 1% and serves as a formulation/base ingredient rather than an active treatment. |
Key active = does the main work. Ingredient explanations are drawn from public databases & literature.
Peer-reviewed papers on the active ingredients in this product, via PubMed.