Gentle Face Wash Formulation Explained: Ingredients, Functions & Complete Procedure

One of the most common skincare products seen on shelves is a face wash. A face wash is probably the basic step to healthy, clean skin. Everyone across all age groups knows how beneficial it is to regularly use a face wash in daily hygiene. Since a face wash works on one of the most sensitive parts of the body i.e the face it is very important to be careful about its formula to ensure it is gentle and caring on the skin. Pure, organic, and potent ingredients can make a huge difference when it comes to this.

Creating a gentle face wash has a lot to do with understanding how each element works to cleanse, hydrate, and protect the skin. Read this blog to know more about face wash making formula and process.

We’ll also share an essential face wash ingredients list including essential elements like cocamidopropyl betaine (and highlight cocamidopropyl betaine uses), decyl glucoside (along with decyl glucoside uses), sodium lauroyl sarcosinate (and the importance of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in face wash), peg-7 glyceryl cocoate, panthenol uses, glycerin uses, and Aloe Vera Extract.

Let’s dive into the science and art! and learn face wash making formula or making a face wash that’s kind to all skin types. 

Gentle Face Wash Formulation

Here's a basic face wash formulation perfect for sensitive, dry, or easily irritated skin.

Phase A (Water Phase)

• Purified Water (Aqua) – 50–60%
• Glycerin – 3% (humectant that hydrates and softens skin)
• Disodium EDTA – 0.1% (chelating agent that improves stability)

Phase B (Surfactant Phase)

• Cocamidopropyl Betaine – 8% (mild surfactant and foam booster)
• Decyl Glucoside – 5% (gentle, non-ionic cleanser)
• Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate – 6% (mild anionic surfactant for effective cleansing)
• PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate – 2% (emollient and skin-conditioning agent)

Phase C (Additives & Actives)

• Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5) – 1% (soothing and hydrating agent)
• Aloe Vera Extract – 2% (calming, healing botanical extract)
• Allantoin – 0.5% (skin protectant and anti-irritant)

Phase D (Preservative & pH Adjuster)

• Preservative (e.g., Phenoxyethanol) – 1% (ensures product safety and shelf life)
• Citric Acid Solution (10%) – q.s. (adjusts pH to 5.0–5.5)

Gentle Face Wash Making Formula and Process

Follow these clear steps to make your face wash:

Phase A – Water Phase:

Heat purified water to 60–70°C. Dissolve Disodium EDTA and Glycerin completely with gentle stirring.

Phase B – Surfactant Phase:

Slowly add Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, and PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate into the water phase with gentle stirring. Avoid excessive foam formation.

Cool Down Phase:

Allow the mixture to cool below 40°C.

Phase C – Actives:

Add Panthenol, Aloe Vera Extract, and Allantoin one by one with slow, gentle mixing.

Phase D – Preservative & pH Adjustment:

Add your preservative (Phenoxyethanol) and carefully adjust the pH to 5.0–5.5 using the Citric Acid solution.

Final Check:

Verify the clarity, pH, and viscosity of the face wash. Adjust viscosity slightly if needed.

Once everything looks perfect, you can fill your soothing face wash into pump bottles or tubes!

Function of Each Ingredient in Your Gentle Face Wash

Understanding each ingredient in face wash formulation allows you to tweak and customize your formula easily.

• Purified Water (Aqua): This is the starting point and the base for the entire formulation.

• Glycerin: This magic ingredient is what makes a face wash hydrating and maintains skin softness.

• Disodium EDTA: Disodium EDTA improves the stability of your face wash to you can create bogger batches.

• Cocamidopropyl Betaine: Derived from coconut oil, this boosts foam without irritation. This is very important for face wash formula for sensitive skin.

• Decyl Glucoside: Another great surfactant that cleans without bothering the skin.

• Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate: A gentle surfactant that increases cleansing power of your facewash while remaining mild on skin.

• PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate: PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoatec conditions the skin and prevents dryness.

• Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5): Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5) soothes, repairs, and hydrates the skin.

• Aloe Vera Extract: The benefits of aloe vera for skin are popular for good reason. Pure aloe vera extract gives a cooling relief, reduces redness, and heals irritation. This is a great addition for tackling skin problems in summers.

• Allantoin: Protects and softens the skin acting as an anti-irritant.

• Phenoxyethanol: Phenoxyethanol ensures the face wash remains safe for use over time.

• Citric Acid: Balances pH for optimal skin friendliness.

Each carefully chosen ingredient contributes to making a face wash that not only cleanses gently but also nourish and protects the skin layer.

By understanding the roles of each ingredient and experimenting with the face wash making process, you can create a cleanser that's perfectly suited to your skin's needs.

Why Choose Hiya India for Your Gentle Face Wash Ingredients?

When it comes to face wash formulation ingredient quality is everything to maintain the sensitivity of the skin. At Hiya India, we are deeply committed to sourcing only the purest, organic, and ethically harvested ingredients for your skincare projects.

Our decades of expertise lie in providing premium quality ingredients such as potent essential oils like batana oil, organic tea tree essential oil, organic peppermint essential oil and more. We’ve got an A-Z list of gentle facewash ingredients like aloe vera extract, cocamidopropyl betaine, glycerin, panthenol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate and allantoin all sourced responsibly to ensure maximum efficacy and safety.

Hiya India's chemicals are carefully curated from organic sources, sustainable partners, and ethical producers who share our values of purity, sustainability, and excellence. We ensure that every ingredient passes rigorous quality checks so that you can craft skincare that truly works without harmful additives, contaminants, or compromised quality.

By choosing Hiya India, you are choosing authenticity, sustainability, and nature’s best ingredients in their purest form. Explore our range of pure surfactants, organic liquid extracts, natural essential oils, and preservatives today and start making skincare products that people will love and trust.