Ultimate Retinol Day Cream
The Spa Cosmetics Ultimate Retinol Day Cream is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 40 ingredients (25 low-risk) rates it Excellent (87/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The Spa Cosmetics Ultimate Retinol Day Cream is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 40 ingredients (25 low-risk) rates it Excellent (87/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and 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
Dry Skin
15/5
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
1/0
Sensitive Skin
4/13
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Isopropyl Myristate
(Binding Agent, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Binding, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
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
|
Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Cyclomethicone
(Antistatic Agent, Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
Silicone
|
|
3
|
A
|
PEG-40 Stearate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sorbitan Tristearate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
9
|
A
|
Retinol
(Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
|
|
3
|
|
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
5
|
A
|
Benzyl Alcohol
(External Analgesic, Fragrance, Oral Health Care Drug, Preservative, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
|
PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
|
|
|
|
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
(Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
(Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
|
Sea Salt
(Abrasive, Humectant, Bulking Agent, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Sodium Lactate
(Buffering Agent, Exfoliant, Humectant, Keratolytic) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Calcium Gluconate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent) |
|
|
2
|
|
Copper Gluconate
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Magnesium Aspartate
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
3
|
|
Zinc Gluconate
(Cosmetic Biocide, Skin Conditioning, Deodorant) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Benzoic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Preservative, Bulking Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
|
|
Acer saccharum extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Citrus Medica Flower Extract
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Dimethiconol
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Moisturising) |
Silicone
|
|
|
|
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
(Moisturising, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Vaccinium Myrtillus Bud Extract
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Dehydroacetic Acid
(Preservative) |
|
|
1
|
|
Xylitylglucoside
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Xylitol
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
|
Tetrapeptide-26
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
5
|
|
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
Allergens
|
|
7
|
|
Cinnamal
(Denaturant, Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
7
|
|
Geraniol
(Fragrance, Masking, Tonic) |
Allergens
|
|
7
|
|
Benzyl Salicylate
(Fragrance, Uv Absorber, Masking) |
Allergens
|
|
5
|
|
Citronellol
(Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
|
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.
Retinol
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
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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