Anti-Breakout Facial Cleansing Gel

Carbon Theory

Anti-Breakout Facial Cleansing Gel

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About this product

The Carbon Theory Anti-Breakout Facial Cleansing Gel is a cleanser. Our analysis of its 16 ingredients (12 low-risk) rates it Excellent (92/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Cleansers
Ingredients
16
Low-risk
12
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United Kingdom
Data updated
Jun 2026

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

PH Level

(Know the PH? Submit it here! )

N/A - No submissions yet

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 2/9
Good for dry skin
Glycerin Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
Caution for dry skin
Decyl Glucoside Lauryl Glucoside Charcoal Powder Shea Butter Glycereth-8 Esters Glycerin Salicylic Acid Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate Sodium Hydroxide Polysorbate 20
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 1/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid
Sensitive Skin 1/5
Good for sensitive skin
Glycerin
Caution for sensitive skin
Glycerin Salicylic Acid Sorbic Acid Benzyl Alcohol Limonene

Ingredients list

16 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (6)
All16 Surfactant5 Solvent4 Fragrance4 Preservative3 Skin Conditioning3 Emulsifying3 Perfuming3 Denaturant3
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
B
Decyl Glucoside
(Cleansing, Emulsion Stabilising, Surfactant)
2
A
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
3
B
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
B
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
1
B
Lauryl Glucoside
(Cleansing, Surfactant)
1
A
Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Charcoal Powder
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Colorant, Opacifying, Cosmetic Colorant)
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
(Antioxidant, Perfuming)
1
Shea Butter Glycereth-8 Esters
(Cleansing, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
4
B
Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
3
B
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
1
Sodium Phytate
(Chelating Agent, Oral Care Agent)
3
A
Sorbic Acid
(Fragrance, Preservative)
5
A
Benzyl Alcohol
(External Analgesic, Fragrance, Oral Health Care Drug, Preservative, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Masking)
Allergens
Allergens
6
Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent)
Allergens
Allergens

My Ingredient Notes

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Key ingredients

BHA
Unclogs pores and reduces excess oil.
Antioxidants
Shields skin from free radical damage.
Exfoliators
Removes dead skin cells to smoothe texture.

Benefits

Acne FightingFights acne and helps prevent breakouts.
Good For Oily SkinBalances oil and helps reduce shine.
HydratingBoosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
BrighteningRestores radiance to dull, tired skin.
Reduces Large PoresMinimizes the look of enlarged pores.
Scar HealingImproves the look of marks and scars.
Skin TextureSmooths rough patches and refines texture.
Barrier RepairStrengthen and restore your skin's natural barrier.

Concerns

Contains eu allergen
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
May not suit dry skin
May not suit sensitive skin

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing, Emulsion stabilising
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B CleansingEmulsion stabilisingSurfactant
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Skin conditioningEmollientEmulsifyingSurfactant
Lauryl Glucoside
Cleansing, Surfactant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B CleansingSurfactant
Carbomer
Emulsion stabilising, Viscosity increasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Emulsion stabilisingViscosity increasing agentGel formingViscosity controlling
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive, Absorbent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 AbrasiveAbsorbentColorantOpacifyingCosmetic colorant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant, Perfuming
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AntioxidantPerfuming
Shea Butter Glycereth-8 Esters
Cleansing, Emulsifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CleansingEmulsifyingSurfactant
Sodium Hydroxide
Denaturant, Ph adjuster
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B DenaturantPh adjusterBuffering agent
Sodium Phytate
Chelating agent, Oral care agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Chelating agentOral care agent
Sorbic Acid
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A FragrancePreservative
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Salicylic Acid
Antiacne agent, Antidandruff agent
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B Antiacne agentAntidandruff agentCorn/callus/wart removerDenaturantExfoliantFragranceHair conditioningSkin conditioningKeratolyticMaskingPreservative Good for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Benzyl Alcohol
External analgesic, Fragrance
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 5 CIR A External analgesicFragranceOral health care drugPreservativeSolventViscosity decreasing agentMasking Allergens
Limonene
Deodorant, Perfuming
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 6 DeodorantPerfumingSolvent Allergens

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Use as the first step, on clean hands, before the rest of your routine.
  • 2 Morning & evening: Suitable for both AM and PM use.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Use with caution
BHA (salicylic) (Salicylic Acid)

Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.

This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

BHA (salicylic) 0.5–2%

Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.

Salicylic Acid

INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.

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