C-Exfoliating Day Lotion
The Obagi C-Exfoliating Day Lotion is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 32 ingredients (23 low-risk) rates it Excellent (85/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The Obagi C-Exfoliating Day Lotion is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 32 ingredients (23 low-risk) rates it Excellent (85/100). 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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Glycolic Acid
(Exfoliant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Arginine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning) |
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Polysorbate 60
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Ethylhexyl Palmitate
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Perfuming) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Ethylhexyl Stearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Isopropyl Palmitate
(Binding Agent, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Antistatic Agent, Binding, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
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PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
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PEG-8 Dimethicone
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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PEG-8 Ricinoleate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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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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Ascorbyl Glucoside
(Antioxidant) |
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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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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Ceteareth-20
(Cleansing, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
|
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Steareth-2
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Tetrasodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent) |
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Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
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Methylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Ethylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Butylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative, Masking) |
Paraben
|
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Propylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative, Perfuming) |
Paraben
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Isobutylparaben
(Preservative) |
Paraben
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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
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
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.
Ascorbyl Glucoside
OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.
Glycolic 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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