Retinol+ Emulsion 0.3
The iS Clinical Retinol+ Emulsion 0.3 is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 58 ingredients (38 low-risk) rates it Excellent (94/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The iS Clinical Retinol+ Emulsion 0.3 is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 58 ingredients (38 low-risk) rates it Excellent (94/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
Dry Skin
17/12
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
1/0
Sensitive Skin
2/12
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
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
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
|
Ectoin
(Buffering Agent, Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying) |
|
|
|
Polyglyceryl-4 Cocoate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Polyglyceryl-3 Cocoate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Glyceryl Caprylate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
|
Bakuchiol
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial) |
|
5
|
B
|
Triethanolamine
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
9
|
A
|
Retinol
(Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
|
Phragmites Communis Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Poria Cocos Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting) |
|
|
|
|
rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract
(Antimicrobial, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Phosphatidylcholine
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
(Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
|
2
3
|
|
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient) |
|
|
4
|
B
|
Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
3
|
B
|
Polysorbate 40
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
|
|
Helianthus Annuus Extract
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
4
|
A
|
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
4
|
B
|
Polyacrylamide
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Antistatic Agent, Binding) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
C13-14 Isoparaffin
(Emollient, Solvent) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Laureth-7
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Tripeptide-1
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Dextran
(Binding Agent, Bulking Agent, Binding, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
ASCORBIC ACID
(Antioxidant, Buffering, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
4
|
|
Colloidal Gold
(Antimicrobial, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Glutathione
(Fragrance, Reducing) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Panthenol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
B
|
Heptyl Undecylenate
(Emollient) |
|
|
|
|
C11-15-Isoalkanes
(Perfuming) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Bidens Pilosa Extract
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
ELAEIS GUINEENSIS OIL
(Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
|
|
GOSSYPIUM HERBACEUM SEED OIL
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Glycine Soja Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Phenylpropanol
(Masking, Perfuming, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Diisopropyl Adipate
(Fragrance, Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent, Masking) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Triethyl Citrate
(Fragrance, Plasticizer, Antioxidant, Deodorant, Masking, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Sorbitol
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Humectant, Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
PARFUM
(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.
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
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
ASCORBIC ACID
OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.
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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