Advanced Dermaclear Serum
The Dermaquest Advanced Dermaclear Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 86 ingredients (62 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The Dermaquest Advanced Dermaclear Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 86 ingredients (62 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). 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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Water
(Solvent) |
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SD Alcohol 40-B
(Astringent, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Glycolic Acid
(Exfoliant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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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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Azelaic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
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Hexyl Laurate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Cetearyl Olivate
(Hair Conditioning) |
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Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Sorbitol
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Humectant, Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning) |
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Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning) |
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Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Sorbitan Olivate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer
(Emollient, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Skin Conditioning) |
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Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
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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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Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Dicetyl Phosphate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Ceteth-10 Phosphate
(Cleansing, Surfactant) |
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Stearic Acid
(Fragrance, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Stearic Acid., Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Refatting) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Sea Water
(Humectant, Solvent) |
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Sulfuric Acid
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Sebacic Acid
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Dodecanedioic Acid
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Lauryl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer
(Film Forming, Hair Fixing) |
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Isopentyldiol
(Solvent) |
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Laminaria Digitata Extract
(Skin Protecting) |
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Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Saccharide Isomerate
(Humectant) |
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Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
(Astringent, Fragrance) |
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Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract
(Cosmetic Astringent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Butyrospermum Parkii Nut Extract
(Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
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MANGIFERA INDICA SEED BUTTER
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Retinyl Linoleate
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
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Ethyl Linoleate
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Perfuming) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Hexylresorcinol
(Antimicrobial Agent, Cosmetic Biocide) |
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Yeast Polysaccharides
(Film Forming, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Controlling) |
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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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Hedera Helix Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
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Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
(Refreshing, Skin Conditioning, Soothing, Tonic) |
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Arnica Montana Flower Extract
(Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
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Parietaria Officinalis Extract
(Emollient, Soothing) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
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Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Hexylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Emulsifying, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant) |
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Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
(Antioxidant, Perfuming) |
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imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Primula Veris Flower Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Alchemilla Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
(Astringent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Veronica Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
(Astringent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Achillea Millefolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent) |
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salix alba bark extract
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Soothing, Tonic) |
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Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Mitracarpus Scaber Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
(Antioxidant) |
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Oleanolic Acid
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Glycine
(Buffering Agent, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
(Film Forming, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent) |
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Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Maltodextrin
(Absorbent, Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Binding) |
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Syringa Vulgaris Leaf Cell Culture Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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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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Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
(Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Opacifying, Slip Modifier, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Ammonium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
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Sodium Metabisulfite
(Antioxidant, Preservative, Reducing) |
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Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Allergens
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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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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 Linoleate
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
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
OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.
Glycolic Acid, Lactic 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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