Peter Thomas Roth Acne Spot & Area Treatment
The Peter Thomas Roth Acne Spot & Area Treatment is a treatment. Our analysis of its 68 ingredients (58 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The Peter Thomas Roth Acne Spot & Area Treatment is a treatment. Our analysis of its 68 ingredients (58 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). 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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Colloidal Sulfur
(Antimicrobial) |
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2,6-Dimethyl-7-Octen-2-ol
(Masking, Perfuming, Solvent) |
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Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
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Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
(Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Sensitive Skin
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Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Arginine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Benzoic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Preservative, Bulking Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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(-)-alpha-isabolol | |
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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C13-14 Isoparaffin
(Emollient, Solvent) |
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Caprylhydroxamic Acid
(Chelating Agent) |
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Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
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Ceteareth-20
(Cleansing, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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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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Chlorphenesin
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial, Preservative) |
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Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Echinacea Angustifolia Extract
(Moisturising, Skin Conditioning, Soothing, Tonic) |
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Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Flavor | |
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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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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Glycolic Acid
(Exfoliant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract
(Antioxidant, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Perfuming) |
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Hexylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Emulsifying, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant) |
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Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant) |
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Isopropyl Myristate
(Binding Agent, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Binding, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Laureth-7
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract | |
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Leptospermum Petersonii Oil
(Fragrance, Pesticide, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
(Antidandruff Agent, Antimicrobial) |
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Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
(Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Opacifying, Slip Modifier, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
(Antioxidant) |
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Menthol
(Denaturant, External Analgesic, Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Oral Health Caredrug, Masking, Refreshing, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Dry Skin
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Menthyl Acetate
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Perfuming) |
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Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Film Forming, Perfuming) |
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Methyl Rosinate
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Film Forming, Perfuming) |
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Methylpropanediol
(Solvent) |
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Morus Alba Bark Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
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Myristic Acid
(Fragrance, Opacifying, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Perfuming) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
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Octyldodecyl PCA
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
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Myristyl Myristate
(Emollient, Opacifying, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
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Panthenol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
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PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Polyacrylamide
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Antistatic Agent, Binding) |
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Polysorbate 80
(Denaturant, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Potassium Benzoate
(Preservative) |
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Potassium Tartrate
(Buffering Agent) |
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Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
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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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Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract | |
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Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
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Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Sodium Metabisulfite
(Antioxidant, Preservative, Reducing) |
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Sorbic Acid
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
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Titanium/Titanium Dioxide
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying) |
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
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Triethoxycaprylylsilane
(Binding Agent, Binding) |
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Triethyl Citrate
(Fragrance, Plasticizer, Antioxidant, Deodorant, Masking, Solvent) |
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Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract
(Anticaries Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Antifungal Agent, Antimicrobial Agent, Antioxidant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Zea Mays (Corn) Starch
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Increasing Agent) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Zeolite
(Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Deodorant) |
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Zinc Oxide
(Bulking Agent, Cosmetic Colorant, Skin Protecting, Sunscreen Agent) |
Good for Oily Skin
|
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Dipropylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
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.
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.
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.
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
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
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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