PH
AGreat
Glyco-8 AHA Facial Moisturizer
The Pharmagel Glyco-8 AHA Facial Moisturizer is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 57 ingredients (26 low-risk) rates it Great (76/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The Pharmagel Glyco-8 AHA Facial Moisturizer is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 57 ingredients (26 low-risk) rates it Great (76/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone 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
10/13
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
2/0
Sensitive Skin
6/29
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Cyclopentasiloxane
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent) |
Silicone
|
|
3
|
B
|
Propylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioningagent Miscellaneous, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
6
|
|
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Phenyl Trimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
|
|
|
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
(Moisturising, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
5
|
B
|
Triethanolamine
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Steareth-2
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
|
|
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Oily Skin
|
|
|
|
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
citrus limon peel extract
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Skin Protecting, Tonic) |
|
|
|
|
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
|
|
Glycine Soja Oil
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
|
|
Vegetable Oil
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
PVM/MA Decadiene Crosspolymer
(Binding, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Ceteareth-20
(Cleansing, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
3
|
A
|
PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
4
|
B
|
Glycolic Acid
(Exfoliant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Palmitic Acid
(Fragrance, Opacifying, Sufactant, Surfactant Emulsifying Agentsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Palmitic Acid., Emollient) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Stearic Acid
(Fragrance, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Stearic Acid., Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Refatting) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Myristic Acid
(Fragrance, Opacifying, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Perfuming) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
|
Arachidic Acid
(Opacifying, Sufactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Arachidic Acid., Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
8
|
|
Benzophenone-3
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, 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
|
A
|
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hexylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Emulsifying, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant) |
|
|
6
|
A
|
BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Chlorphenesin
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial, Preservative) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Benzoic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Preservative, Bulking Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
3
|
A
|
Sorbic Acid
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
|
|
4
|
A
|
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
5
|
|
Hexyl Cinnamal
(Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
7
|
|
Geraniol
(Fragrance, Masking, Tonic) |
Allergens
|
|
5
|
|
Citronellol
(Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
6
|
|
Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Allergens
|
|
7
|
|
Hydroxycitronellal
(Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
5
|
|
Linalool
(Fragrance, Deodorant, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
6
|
A
|
Benzyl Benzoate
(Fragrance, Solvent, Antimicrobial, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
7
|
|
Coumarin
(Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
7
|
|
Citral
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
7
|
|
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
(Perfuming) |
Allergens
|
|
7
|
|
Cinnamal
(Denaturant, Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
|
|
Amyl Cinnamal
(Perfuming) |
Allergens
|
|
5
|
A
|
Benzyl Alcohol
(External Analgesic, Fragrance, Oral Health Care Drug, Preservative, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
7
|
|
Eugenol
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Masking, Tonic) |
Allergens
|
|
4
|
|
Farnesol
(Fragrance, Deodorant, Masking, Solvent, Soothing) |
Allergens
|
|
|
|
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.
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
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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