Water
On the label: Aqua · Solvent
What it is
The first ingredient in most products, because it is the largest by weight. Purified or deionised in cosmetics; 'aqua' and 'water' are the same thing.
Solvents: Solvents dissolve the other ingredients; water is the commonest, followed by alcohols and glycols.
Wikidata: Chemical compound whose molecules are formed by two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Q283 →
In the research
36,645 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- PVA and HPMC E4M-based patches for periorbital hyperpigmentation containing açaí oil, barbatimão extract and hyaluronic acid: Preliminary evaluation of skin hydration · In vitro models, 2026
- Thickness-confined hydrophobic gating enables ultrafast capillary rectification in Janus fibrous membranes for sweat-resilient self-powered sensing · Biosensors & bioelectronics, 2026
- Spatial-temporal mechanisms of reactive oxygen species and redox governing plant development · Current opinion in plant biology, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Products whose label lists it
24 on the siteMatched from the ingredient list the supplier printed; the position in the list (first or thirtieth) is on each product page.
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Other solvents
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.