Aqua

Quite often we see “Aqua” as one of the first items listed on a cosmetic product’s list of ingredients. “Aqua” simply means water and it is the official term approved by the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI).

The active ingredient of water is used in the majority of cosmetic and personal care products. It should be free of pollutants, microbes, and toxins. There are different types of purified water used in skincare products: distilled, demineralized, and deionized.

Distilled water is the oldest form of purifying water. First, the water must be boiled in a still, following collecting vapor in a condenser and cooling it to reform the water. It is believed that this process enables the removal of all possible contaminants, except for those that boil at temperatures lower than water (e.g. alcohols).

Demineralization removes all minerals found in water. This process is done when water is used for chemical processes and the present minerals may affect reactions with other chemicals. By performing the demineralization process, the undesired minerals are replaced with different salts like NaCl, making water “softened.”

The last process is deionization. Deionized water is water in which mineral ions like iron, calcium, chloride, and sulfate are removed. It is very similar to demineralization. Deionization is a chemical process in which specifically manufactured ion-exchange resins are used. Hydrogen and hydroxide ions are exchanged for dissolved minerals. These minerals recombine to form water. 

In skincare formulations, water is used as a solvent to dissolve other ingredients. Its main role is to deliver active ingredients to sites where they will be most effective and beneficial to the skin.  

The quality of water used in the production of skincare products is carefully monitored and strict safety guidelines are followed.