Retinol Lifting Ampoule
The CLIV Retinol Lifting Ampoule is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 64 ingredients (48 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone, dry, and sensitive skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The CLIV Retinol Lifting Ampoule is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 64 ingredients (48 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone, dry, and sensitive skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
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1,2-Hexanediol
(Solvent) |
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Methyl Gluceth-20
(Humectant, Moisturising) |
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Betaine
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Glyceryl Glucoside
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Benzyl Glycol
(Solvent) |
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PVP
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Antistatic Agent, Binding, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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HELIANTHUS ANNUUS HYBRID OIL
(Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
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Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
(Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Arginine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
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Pullulan
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Binding) |
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Hydrolyzed Collagen
(Hair Conditioning, Nail Conditioning Agent, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Emollient, Film Forming, Humectant) |
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Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant) |
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Adenosine
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
(Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent) |
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Beta-Glucan
(Bulking Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Ferulic Acid
(Antioxidant, Preservative, Uv Absorber, Antimicrobial) |
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Sclerotium Gum
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Astaxanthin
(Cosmetic Colorant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Fullerenes
(Antimicrobial, Skin Conditioning) |
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Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Retinol
(Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Cholesterol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Magnolia Liliflora Bud Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Sophora Japonica Bud Extract
(Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
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Retinyl Palmitate
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Miscellaneous) |
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking) |
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Polyglutamic Acid
(Skin Conditioning) |
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arachis hypogaea oil
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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BHA
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Panax Ginseng Root Extract
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic) |
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Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Oily Skin
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Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Propylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioningagent Miscellaneous, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
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Polysorbate 80
(Denaturant, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Avena Sativa Meal Extract
(Soothing) |
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TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Ubiquinone
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Hexapeptide-9
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Tripeptide-1
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Copper Tripeptide-1
(Skin Conditioning) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.
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.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.
Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
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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