AC
AGreat
Obagi Nu-Derm Clear
The Obagi Nu-Derm Clear is a misc. Our analysis of its 16 ingredients (9 low-risk) rates it Great (70/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin.
The Obagi Nu-Derm Clear is a misc. Our analysis of its 16 ingredients (9 low-risk) rates it Great (70/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
Dry Skin
4/5
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
1/0
Sensitive Skin
6/10
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
9
|
|
Hydroquinone
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Hair Dyeing Reducing, Skin Bleaching Agent, Hair Dyeing) |
|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
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
2
|
|
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
(Cleansing, Denaturant, Emulsifying, Foaming, Surfactant) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Sulfate
|
|
1
|
A
|
Stearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foambooster, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Foam Boosting, Masking, Opacifying, Refatting, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
3
|
|
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
4
|
A
|
Sodium Metabisulfite
(Antioxidant, Preservative, Reducing) |
|
|
4
|
B
|
Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
|
Saponins
(Cleansing, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
4
|
A
|
Methylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
6
|
A
|
BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking) |
|
|
7
|
A
|
Propylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative, Perfuming) |
Paraben
|
|
7
|
A
|
Butylparaben
(Fragrance, Preservative, Masking) |
Paraben
|
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.
Commonly advised to avoid in pregnancy because a relatively high proportion is absorbed through the skin.
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.
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 (Vitamin C)
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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