Water

Water, otherwise known as H2O, is an oxygen hydride comprising an oxygen atom covalently bonded to two hydrogen atoms. Water is one of the most common skincare product ingredients. It generally appears as the first ingredient on the ingredient listing because it is present in high amounts. This serves as a solvent, which simply means that this ingredient dissolves ingredients that are only water-soluble and not oil-soluble. Applied topically, water hydrates the skin quite well, but if pure water is left on the skin for some time, it dehydrates the skin. Water that is included in skincare formulations is usually purified and deionized, which means that minerals and impurities are removed from the water. This will provide stability to the product and extend the shelf life.