Mary Kay Subtle Tanning Lotion
The Mary Kay Subtle Tanning Lotion is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 32 ingredients (24 low-risk) rates it Excellent (84/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The Mary Kay Subtle Tanning Lotion is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 32 ingredients (24 low-risk) rates it Excellent (84/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to 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
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Mineral Oil
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Antistatic Agent, Perfuming) |
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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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Glycol Stearate
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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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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Myristic Acid
(Fragrance, Opacifying, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Perfuming) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Fragrance
(Deodorant, Masking, Perfuming) |
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Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Myristyl Myristate
(Emollient, Opacifying, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
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Dihydroxyacetone
(Cosmetic Colorant, Skin Conditioning, Reducing, Tanning) |
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Hydroxyethyl Urea
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
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VP/VA Copolymer
(Binding, Film Forming, Hair Fixing) |
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Petrolatum
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Occlusive, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Moisturising, Uv Absorber) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
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Cyclopentasiloxane
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent) |
Silicone
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Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Ceteareth-20
(Cleansing, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Stearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foambooster, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Foam Boosting, Masking, Opacifying, Refatting, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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(-)-alpha-isabolol | |
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Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
(Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Opacifying, Slip Modifier, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Myristyl Laurate
(Surfactant) |
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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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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Polysorbate 60
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Methylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
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Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Ethylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Sorbitan Isostearate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Propylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative, Perfuming) |
Paraben
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Cyclohexasiloxane
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent) |
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.
Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A)
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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