HOCl / Electrolysed Water (anolyte)
A mild antimicrobial molecule the human immune system produces naturally — white blood cells generate it to neutralise bacteria and calm inflammation during the body's own defence response. For skincare it is manufactured by electrolysing salt water, producing a near-water solution typically dosed at 100–200 ppm. It has a long medical history as a wound and eyelid cleanser, with cleared uses dating back to early-twentieth-century wound care, and has recently become popular as a gentle "reset" spray for reactive, breakout-prone, and post-procedure skin. The key point for stacking: it is an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent — not an exfoliating acid like the AHAs and BHAs it sits beside in this category, so it does not thin the skin, increase photosensitivity, or compete with your treatment actives.
HOCl works at only ~100–200 ppm — far below the 1% line — yet stays active because it is a potent antimicrobial, not a dose-dependent exfoliant. So unlike most actives, its INCI position is not a reliability signal: it usually appears near the top simply because the formula is almost entirely water. Judge an HOCl product on stabilisation and freshness, not list position.
Spray or pat onto clean skin and let it air-dry for 30–60 seconds before layering anything else. Suitable AM or PM, and especially useful after workouts, after in-clinic procedures, or during active breakouts. Because HOCl is mildly reactive, avoid applying pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) or peptide serums directly on top while skin is still wet — let it dry fully first, or use them at a different time of day, so the HOCl doesn't oxidise the active before it absorbs. It pairs comfortably with most barrier and hydration steps. Stored cool and away from light, and replaced once past its date, a stabilised spray keeps its activity; a flat or pool-smelling bottle past its prime has likely degraded.
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