Retinol Acne Clearing Oil
The Dermalogica Retinol Acne Clearing Oil is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 21 ingredients (13 low-risk) rates it Excellent (91/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The Dermalogica Retinol Acne Clearing Oil is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 21 ingredients (13 low-risk) rates it Excellent (91/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Coconut Alkanes
(Emollient, Solvent) |
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PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
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Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
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SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS SEED OIL
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
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C13-15 Alkane
(Solvent) |
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Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
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Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Retinyl Propionate
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Butyl Avocadate
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Phenylethyl Resorcinol
(Antioxidant) |
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Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Sclareolide
(Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
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Triolein
(Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Refatting, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
(Skin Conditioning) |
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TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking) |
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Propyl Gallate
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Perfuming) |
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.
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.
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.
Retinyl Propionate
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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