Magic Molecule Review

Whether you’re a skincare novice or expert, it may be shocking to learn that skincare products made up 40% of all global cosmetics sales in 2023, beating makeup (17%) and even hair care (20%) by a fair margin.1 With so many skincare products on the market — cleansers, toners, tonics, serums, creams, and more — it can be overwhelming to try figuring out which products suit your unique needs, especially if you have sensitive skin or a dermatological condition, like eczema or rosacea.

To make the decision process easier and more affordable, some companies have created products that can fulfill multiple skincare functions. One example is Magic Molecule, a hypochlorous acid (HOCl) spray that the makers claim can help “heal over 50 common skin ailments.” That includes calming red or irritated skin, minimizing imperfections, and even acting as a disinfectant. But do these claims hold water?

In our review of Magic Molecule, we delve into the research behind HOCl, detail our personal testing experiences, and analyze the product’s efficacy, safety, cost, and convenience to help you determine if it’s the right choice for your skincare routine.

Magic Molecule is an FDA-cleared hypochlorous acid (HOCl) spray with a higher percentage of HOCl (0.018%) than most of its close competitors. HOCl is a highly effective and safe disinfectant with a fair amount of positive research behind it as a wound-healing agent and potential treatment for various skincare concerns, such as acne and eczema. Our testers had highly positive experiences with this product, especially when it came to eczema. So, while Magic Molecule isn’t actually magical, it should provide most people with at least some benefit — even if that’s just keeping your skin free of bacteria. In terms of cost, this is a good value; the single-purchase price of Magic Molecule is often a few dollars higher than comparable sprays, but the standard bottle (8fl oz) is at least double the size of those sprays.

Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions involving staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles.

For our review of Magic Molecule, our team spent over 100 cumulative hours researching and trying the product. We analyzed dozens of studies, research papers, and academic articles on HOCl, including but not limited to those on its safety, effectiveness, and dermatological applications. Also, to provide accurate information about the customer experience, we personally purchased Magic Molecule, communicated at length with customer service, and tested the spray on various skin concerns, including eczema, acne, scrapes, and cat scratches.

Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this review was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.

When evaluating Magic Molecule, we considered four key criteria: effectiveness, safety, cost, and convenience. The first two — effectiveness and safety — go hand in hand. When you’re looking for an effective product for your skincare needs, you likely want one that won’t put your health at risk to achieve your goals.

Cost may seem pretty straightforward, but when you take into account factors like return policies, subscription deals, and bottle sizes, then rating Magic Molecule versus the competition gets a bit more complex.

Finally, convenience is a broad category that includes subscription intervals, customer service, ease of use, and more.

Effectiveness

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a highly effective disinfectant. Some researchers say it may be 80-200 times more powerful than bleach — all without being harmful to humans.2

Research on HOCl mainly focuses on its ability to wipe out germs,3 bacteria, viruses,4 fungi, and more.5 This, plus its anti-inflammatory properties, makes it an ideal treatment for wounds and burns, too.6 7 More research is needed on additional dermatological applications, but the evidence that does exist suggests HOCl can be beneficial for skin concerns like acne, eczema, scarring, and pruritus (itching).8

Of course, all of that research is about HOCl, not Magic Molecule in particular, so the same benefits could apply to similar sprays on the market — as long as they’re properly manufactured under ideal conditions (including proper pH stabilization). Now, because Magic Molecule uses a proprietary method to create its HOCl, we don’t know much about its manufacturing process. However, because the product is FDA-cleared (just like the competitor product BLDG Active Skin Repair), we do know that it has demonstrated safety and efficacy as an antimicrobial wound irrigation solution (technically, the purpose for which it was cleared).9

So, while it may not be truly magical, Magic Molecule should be effective in managing wounds, disinfecting your skin, and potentially relieving some of the inflammatory symptoms associated with certain dermatological conditions.

Safety

HOCl is an overall safe substance that’s naturally found in your body. It’s created by your white blood cells when your system is under attack by invaders (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and so on).3 Because of its natural presence in your body, sensitive skin shouldn’t react to it. Magic Molecule also leaves out alcohol, fragrances, sulfates, and other common irritants to ensure the formula is as gentle as possible.

None of the competing products that we’ve evaluated contain those irritants, either, but S’eau Prima’s Foundational Face Mist spray contains sodium hypochlorite, the active ingredient in bleach. The sodium hypochlorite may be a by-product of the company’s production method, but it does make S’eau Prima the only HOCl item in this review that we’d recommend being more careful with.

Magic Molecule’s Solution spray (like BLDG Active’s spray) is also FDA-cleared, meaning that it has been tested to ensure both safety and efficacy.9 And, similar to Tower 28’s SOS spray, Magic Molecule is accepted by the National Eczema Association. This means the product has undergone rigorous evaluation by the association to ensure it’s safe for those with eczema — and sensitive skin in general.10 One step in the evaluation process includes completing specific clinical testing requirements, such as a Human Repeat Insult Patch Test (HRIPT), Safety in Use (SIU) test, or Cumulative Irritation Test (CIT).11

The only reason Magic Molecule didn’t get higher marks for safety is that the company uses a proprietary process to create its HOCl. FDA clearance aside, we’d prefer to know the process's ins and outs so that we can fully research it (and its safety).

Cost

Magic Molecule costs more upfront than most of its competitors, but its cost per fluid ounce is actually the lowest we could find. For example, an 8fl oz bottle of Magic Molecule costs $32 and a bottle of BLDG Active Skin Repair is $29.97, but Magic Molecule gives you more than twice the spray for only around $2 more, and its cost per fluid ounce is less than half that of BLDG ($4 versus $9.99).

Opting for bundles or subscribing to Magic Molecule’s auto-deliveries (for 15% off) can further reduce the up-front and per-ounce costs. Also, shipping is free for orders of $35 or more (although all orders have been shipping free for several months now, so either there’s an error somewhere or the threshold listed on the website is outdated).

We do wish, however, that Magic Molecule could be purchased with an HSA/FSA card, like BLDG Active Skin Repair. If you have an HSA/FSA card and BLDG Active is covered by your plan, that’s likely your most affordable option for an HOCl spray.

Convenience

Like similar HOCl spray products, Magic Molecule should be a convenient and easy-to-use addition to your skincare routine. You just spray it on the treatment area, let it air dry, and repeat as needed throughout the day. The smaller (2fl oz) bottle size available in the Ultimate Bundle also allows you to take it on the go, and it’s even an approved size for taking on an airplane.12

While the subscription option adds convenience, we do wish the intervals were a bit more flexible. Currently, you can only get deliveries every one, two, or three months. However, an 8fl oz bottle of Magic Molecule has about 1,400 sprays in it, so if you use it three times a day, you’d have enough product to last over a year. Because of these somewhat short delivery intervals for bottles that are larger than the average HOCl spray, the subscription options from Tower 28 and BLDG Active for their smaller-sized sprays feel more convenient.

Also, Magic Molecule has been experiencing shipping delays due to high demand, so your order may take up to ten days to ship after purchase. We ran into this warning when making our purchase; it didn’t affect our order in the end, but it could very well affect someone else’s.

Founded in 2023 and based in New York, Magic Molecule (the company) specializes in the production of a HOCl spray of the same name. HOCl is a nontoxic substance that’s naturally produced by your white blood cells to fend off bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.3

Like other HOCl spray manufacturers, Magic Molecule uses a process called electrolysis to create the active ingredient in its product. But unlike the competition, Magic Molecule employs a proprietary electrolysis method that the company claims extends the product’s shelf life and makes it identical to the HOCl found in the human body. As with anything proprietary — be it a production process or an ingredient blend — we’d prefer to know more about it so we can better evaluate the claims.

We cover more about HOCl and its production later on in the “Magic Molecule ingredients” section of our review.

Magic Molecule’s company reputation

At the time of this writing, Magic Molecule has neither a Better Business Bureau (BBB) page nor a Trustpilot one. The only places to find customer feedback are the company’s website itself and an external review site called Junip, a service that helps companies gather reviews from customers. The 2,000+ reviews on either website are all very positive, with 5-star ratings making up the vast majority. Unfortunately, neither of these places is ideal for finding unbiased customer feedback — we’d greatly prefer to see a BBB or Trustpilot page (or both).

Given how mild HOCl is, Magic Molecule can be suitable for anyone interested in trying it. Unlike many harsher skincare products that should be used only by adults, HOCl is considered a safe and successful treatment for wounds in children and possibly even premature infants.13 14 A small case study that used pure HOCl on the skin and wounds of five premature infants (less than 37 weeks gestation) found it to be effective and well tolerated.15

But while almost anyone can safely use HOCl, it won’t necessarily work for every concern. Its intended uses are for treating wounds and burns, soothing irritated or itchy skin, and promoting the healing process in conditions like eczema.

Who should look elsewhere?

Even though HOCl can be great for disinfecting various wounds, including mild burns, we highly recommend you see a doctor if you sustain a serious injury, have a wound that appears infected, or your wound isn't healing correctly. Like other disinfectants and antiseptics, Magic Molecule can only help so much in these situations. It can’t prevent the potentially dangerous or life-threatening complications that can arise due to severe skin trauma.

And while HOCl sprays like Magic Molecule can technically “minimize imperfections” on the skin by reducing inflammation and promoting the healing of acne, eczema, and other related skin conditions, they don’t appear to help with things like fine lines and wrinkles or hyperpigmentation. For those situations, we recommend checking out our guides in the following list:

• Anti-aging products (for fine lines and wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity, and more) can be purchased either over the counter (OTC) at your local pharmacy or through a telehealth provider, such as Ro (or Roman).
• Hyperpigmentation (including sunspots and melasma) can be treated with non-prescription products like Meladerm or OTC skin-brightening creams. Alternatively, you can get a prescription from a telehealth service like Musely, which specializes in dermatology.
• If you have acne that is particularly difficult to treat or control, a prescription treatment may be a good option to use alongside Magic Molecule or another HOCl spray; some online services, like Hims for men and Hers for women, offer prescriptions for acne.

Magic Molecule contains only four ingredients, with the vast majority of the spray being water:

• HOCl: 0.018%
• Ionized water: 99.918%
• Sodium chloride (salt): 0.06%
• Hypochlorite ion: 0.004%

The company touts Magic Molecule as an “all-natural” product, and it technically is — all of its components can be found in nature and within your own body.3 The star ingredient, HOCl, is normally created by your body’s white blood cells to defend against infections and bacteria (among other things), but Magic Molecule’s HOCl is produced in a lab. The next two ingredients — water and salt — are necessary for the process used to make HOCl (more on that in a bit), and the final one is hypochlorite ion (composed of chlorine and oxygen; it’s part of what makes up hypochlorous acid).16

What Magic Molecule leaves out of its formula is just as important as what it puts in. The spray doesn’t contain any fragrances, alcohol, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, oils, or talc, so it’s safe for people with sensitive skin. Of course, most HOCl sprays, including all of the competitors we mention, also leave out these common skin irritants.

How is HOCl made?

Even though HOCl concentrations vary between brands, the same basic ingredients in Magic Molecule can also be found in all of its competitors. This is because of the process needed to create HOCl, known as electrolysis, which is when an electric current is used to basically “force” a non-spontaneous chemical reaction to occur.17 To put it simply, when a mixture of water and salt (sodium chloride) is subjected to electrolysis, the resulting product is electrolyzed water — a solution containing HOCl, among other compounds.18

Ingredient variations in competing HOCl sprays

Some competitors appear to have altered formulas for their HOCl products, but these differences mainly serve as ways to make a product seem unique or more luxurious — often resulting in a higher cost for a spray that’s not all that different. For example, S’eau Prima uses Bora Bora sea salt in its Foundational Face Mist, but that’s still ultimately sodium chloride. And the 4fl oz S’eau Prima spray costs $48 per bottle, which is $6 more than Magic Molecule’s Ultimate Bundle that gives you three bottles — one large and two small — totaling 12fl oz, or three times as much HOCl spray.

What matters more than formula variations is the shelf life of HOCl, which is normally very short; researchers found that HOCl solutions exposed to sunlight began degrading on day four, while those protected from the sun lasted 14 days before starting to break down.19 Magic Molecule claims that its proprietary electrolysis process helps overcome HOCl’s instability, leading to a purported shelf life of 18-24 months.

Yes, Magic Molecule is safe; its active ingredient, HOCl, is naturally produced by your white blood cells when your immune system is under attack.3 Because your body makes the same molecule, you shouldn’t experience a poor response by applying it to your skin. Additionally, multiple studies have demonstrated the safety of HOCl,6 even for children and infants.14 15

Magic Molecule, in particular, is FDA-cleared as an antimicrobial wound irrigation solution.9 Being cleared by the FDA has certain requirements, such as “specific testing or labeling” and, typically, completion of a 510(k) Premarket Notification demonstrating the product’s safety and efficacy.20 21 Magic Molecule has also been accepted by the National Eczema Association. Part of the approval process for acceptance requires certain clinical testing measures, like patch testing, SIU testing, and irritation testing.11

Some competitor products have met similar requirements; Tower 28 SOS Rescue Spray is also accepted by the National Eczema Association, and BLDG Active Skin Repair is another FDA-cleared HOCl spray.22

Due to its active ingredient, HOCl, Magic Molecule should be effective at helping improve your skin health in a few different ways. It’s not magic that makes it work, but science — HOCl is a naturally occurring weak acid that your body makes to defend against bacteria, infection, pathogens, and other invaders.3 It’s up to 80-200 times more powerful than bleach at disinfecting but is non-toxic to humans and safe for sensitive skin.2

In the chart below, we explore the research behind some of HOCl’s most promising properties and benefits for skin health.

Why do other HOCl sprays claim different benefits than Magic Molecule?

While HOCl has the potential to fight acne-causing bacteria, calm skin inflammation, and more,6 8 Magic Molecule is only FDA-cleared as an “antimicrobial wound irrigation solution.”9

Now, that doesn’t mean it can’t help soothe your dermatological condition or improve other aspects of your skin health (including in the ways mentioned above). What it does mean is that — unlike HOCl sprays that are not FDA-cleared — Magic Molecule’s labeling must adhere to FDA-required guidelines.26

According to the information we found on FDA-cleared HOCl sprays, the agency really only acknowledges them as an effective way to irrigate and clean wounds or burns or to moisten a wound dressing. Because of this, Magic Molecule needs to describe its spray within the bounds of that general definition. This is why, as pictured below, Magic Molecule’s indication and directions mainly focus on cleaning wounds.

Interestingly, the FDA’s requirements can lead to a noticeable difference between the product descriptions for HOCl sprays that are FDA-cleared and those that aren’t. For example, besides Magic Molecule, BLDG Active Skin Repair Spray is also FDA-cleared, and the product page has a similar focus on “wound care and skin repair.”22 In contrast, the S’eau Prima Foundational Face Mist is not FDA-cleared, and its product page notes that HOCl “helps to improve the moisture barrier, purifying and soothing skin while protecting from environmental stressors” — all without a single mention of wound care or disinfecting.

Magic Molecule can be purchased online directly from the company or from Ulta (either in person or on its website). Since the latter doesn’t offer subscriptions or bundles, the two bullet points below break down the one-time purchase pricing details for each Magic Molecule product currently available through Ulta.

• The Solution Standard Bottle (8fl oz): $32
• Travel Size The Solution (2fl oz): $16 (the standalone travel-size spray is only available through Ulta)

Now, let’s look at the pricing for purchases made directly through Magic Molecule, including bundles and subscriptions.

As you can see, the 15% subscription discount can save you a nice amount of money. Even though the up-front price of Magic Molecule (subscription or not) is more expensive than most of the competition, the price per fluid ounce is much more affordable. Here’s a quick price comparison using the standard sizes offered by each brand we’ve mentioned in this review:

• Magic Molecule ($32; 8fl oz): $4 per fluid ounce
• BLDG Active Skin Repair Spray ($29.97; 3fl oz): $9.99 per fluid ounce
• Tower 28 SOS Rescue Spray ($28; 4fl oz): $7 per fluid ounce
• S’eau Prima Foundational Face Mist ($48; 4fl oz): $12 per fluid ounce

None of Magic Molecule’s competitors come close to its low cost per fluid ounce. Even if you take into account the potential subscription deals, they still don’t win. For example, BLDG Active’s subscription option takes 20% off the regular cost of its Skin Repair Spray price, reducing it to $23.98, or about $7.99 per fluid ounce — but that’s still almost double Magic Molecule’s highest price per fluid ounce.

However, to be fair to BLDG Active, it’s the only product mentioned in this review that’s eligible for payment via HSA/FSA.

Shipping costs

Interestingly, while shipping from Magic Molecule is supposed to be free only when you spend $35 or more, it really seems to be free for all orders. This may be an error that will be corrected in time, but Economy shipping (5-8 days) was free for us when we purchased from the website and still is at the time of this writing.

Your order may be delayed due to high demand — you’ll see red text under the “Add to Cart” button stating how long it will take, if applicable. If you want a faster shipping time, you’ll have to pay either $15 for Standard shipping (3-4 days) or $40 for Express (1-2 days).

We received a shipping delay warning when we ordered the Ultimate Bundle, but even with free Economy shipping, it arrived in only three days. This may not be the case for everyone, but it was a nice surprise.

Magic Molecule 30-day money-back guarantee

Magic Molecule is one of the only HOCl spray manufacturers to offer a money-back guarantee. If you don’t love your purchase for any reason within 30 days, you can reach out and get your money back. Tower 28 and S’eau Prima also have 30-day return policies, and BLDG Active accepts returns but doesn’t note any time restraints.

As mentioned previously, our ordering experience with Magic Molecule was very smooth and quick. We purchased the Ultimate Bundle despite a shipping delay warning due to high demand and chose the free Express shipping option (5-8 days). Our order was supposed to take around ten days to ship, but, to our surprise, it was processed and sent out the following day — and then it arrived two days later. For a package that should have taken anywhere from 15-18 days to arrive, getting it in only three was impressive. Of course, this may not be the experience everyone has; we may have just gotten lucky with the timing of our order.

When it comes to using the product, Magic Molecule is as straightforward as any other spray. And unlike some cosmetic products with similar packaging (like toners or cleansers), the spray head doesn’t stick or become difficult to use over time.

Our testers found Magic Molecule worked well for a number of applications, including:

• Acne and reducing irritation of the surrounding skin
• Eczema (both atopic dermatitis and dyshidrotic eczema)
• Cat scratches, big and small
• Scrapes
• Mosquito bites

The relief that Magic Molecule provided for one tester’s eczema was probably the most impressive. This tester gets eczema in the ear canals and on their hands and fingers, all of which normally respond only to prescription steroid drops or creams (like betamethasone). However, Magic Molecule was able to reduce the number of dyshidrotic eczema blisters and keep most of the itching at bay when used consistently (about five times total) throughout flare-up days. Many people suffer adverse reactions from topical steroids — even withdrawal after prolonged use — so the availability of a gentler alternative that could still calm symptoms is appreciated.27

Magic Molecule is one of many HOCl sprays that have appeared on the market in recent years. Below, we offer some details on three of Magic Molecule’s closest competitors. Although they all share the same basic ingredients, subtle differences between the products may lead you to pick one over another.

BLDG Active Skin Repair

Like Magic Molecule, BLDG Active Skin Repair is FDA-cleared, meaning the FDA acknowledges it as a safe and effective antimicrobial treatment for cleaning wounds (including some burns) and moistening wound dressings.22

BLDG Active sells other HOCl products, too, including a Kids Spray and a Baby Spray that are — for some reason — identical in every way to the Skin Repair Spray. There are also BLDG Active HOCl hydrogels (available as a gel and a spray). Experts note that hydrogels have a soothing and cooling effect on the skin, so they could be extra beneficial for anyone with a mild burn.28

In terms of pricing, the identical HOCl sprays are all $29.97, while the hydrogel options are $34.97. You can get bundles of two or more products for $60-$85 total. The Skin Repair spray can be paid for using an HSA/FSA, which could make it the cheapest overall option if it's fully covered by your plan.

Tower 28 SOS Rescue Spray

Similar to Magic Molecule, the Tower 28 SOS Rescue Spray is accepted by the National Eczema Association and is available in multiple sizes:

• 4fl oz bottle ($28)
• 1fl oz bottle ($12)
• 16fl oz refill bottle ($68)
• SOS Spray Duo bundle ($36)

The single-ounce option is one of the most expensive HOCl sprays per fluid ounce we’ve encountered; it’s tied with S’eau Prima’s $48 Foundational Face Mist, but at least that one has 4fl oz to use. And Tower 28’s 16fl oz refill bottle for $68 is only about $4 less than the single-purchase price for the Magic Molecule Family Pack, which gets you 24fl oz. The subscription prices for both of these products — the Tower 28 refill and the Magic Molecule Family Pack — are $61.20, but you get more bang for your buck from the latter.

S’eau Prima Foundational Face Mist

The S’eau Prima Foundational Face Mist HOCl spray contains luxurious-sounding ingredients and is sold at a higher price ($48 for 4fl oz) because of them. It comes in a glass bottle, and the salt used to create the company’s HOCl is Bora Bora sea salt from “the pristine waters of French Polynesia.” While the addition of sea salt may add some other minerals to the mix, it’s still sodium chloride (just like the other HOCl sprays use).

Interestingly, one of the ingredients listed on the S’eau Prima product is sodium hypochlorite — the active ingredient in bleach. Now, a change in pH can make HOCl (electrolyzed water) become hypochlorite, but if the pH is correctly maintained during production, then this shouldn’t be an issue.19 None of the other HOCl sprays list sodium hypochlorite, either. Therefore, we recommend proceeding more cautiously with this product versus the other HOCl sprays we’ve mentioned; it may not be as safe for sensitive skin or around your eyes, nose, and mouth.