Clear Complexion Acne Serum + Spot Treatment

Urban Skin

Clear Complexion Acne Serum + Spot Treatment

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About this product

The Urban Skin Clear Complexion Acne Serum + Spot Treatment is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 47 ingredients (34 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Serums, Essence, Ampoules
Ingredients
47
Low-risk
34
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United States

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 5/12
Good for dry skin
Butylene Glycol Glycerin Dimethicone Lecithin Tall Oil Sterol
Caution for dry skin
Sorbitan Stearate Sorbitan Isostearate Xanthan Gum Glycerin Sodium Oleate Alcohol Hydrogenated Lecithin Sodium Hydroxide Polysorbate 20 PEG-40 Stearate Silica Lecithin
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 3/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Azelaic Acid Alcohol Benzoyl Peroxide
Sensitive Skin 6/11
Good for sensitive skin
Zinc Oxide Kojic Acid Alpha-Arbutin Glycerin Dimethicone Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Caution for sensitive skin
Glutathione Kojic Acid Sodium Citrate Sorbitan Stearate Azelaic Acid Butylene Glycol Glycerin Citric Acid Alcohol Benzoic Acid Phenoxyethanol

Ingredients list

47 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (7)
All47 Skin Conditioning22 Viscosity Controlling11 Fragrance8 Surfactant7 Emulsifying7 Masking6 Ph Adjuster6 Solvent5
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
3
Benzoyl Peroxide
(Antiacne Agent, Oxidising Agent)
1
Water
(Solvent)
4
B
Glycolic Acid
(Exfoliant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, 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
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
3
B
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling)
Oligopeptide-68
(Bleaching)
1
Alpha-Arbutin
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning)
1
Glutathione
(Fragrance, Reducing)
6
7
B
Kojic Acid
(Antioxidant)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Retinyl Palmitate
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Miscellaneous)
Tall Oil Sterol
(Emollient, Refatting, Skin Conditioning)
B
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
(Skin Conditioning)
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
(Skin Protecting)
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
Arnica Montana Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing)
1
A
Azelaic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
2
3
Zinc Oxide
(Bulking Agent, Cosmetic Colorant, Skin Protecting, Sunscreen Agent)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Echinacea Purpurea Adventitious Root
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient)
1
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
2
Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling)
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
2
A
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
2
3
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient)
1
Sodium Phytate
(Chelating Agent, Oral Care Agent)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
2
A
Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant)
2
Sodium Oleate
(Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
3
B
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
2
Polyacrylate-13
(Film Forming)
1
A
Polyisobutene
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Viscosity Controlling)
3
B
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
(Viscosity Controlling)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
1
A
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
3
A
Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning)
Silicone
Silicone
3
A
PEG-40 Stearate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
2
A
Silica
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Sodium Citrate
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Chelating, Masking)
Diheptyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
(Cleansing, Surfactant Cleansing, Surfactant Foam Boosting, Surfactant Hydrotrope)
1
A
Sorbitan Stearate
(Fragrance, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
A
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Sorbitan Isostearate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
3
A
Benzoic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Preservative, Bulking Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Glycine Soja Oil
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient)

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

Glycolic Acid
Exfoliant
Glycerin
Humectant, Skin Protecting
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tall Oil Sterol
Emollient, Skin Conditioning

Benefits

Good for oily/acne-prone skin

Concerns

Contains paraben
Contains silicone
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
Kojic Acid — higher EWG
May not suit dry skin
May not suit sensitive skin

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 →

Ingredients explained

Benzoyl Peroxide
Antiacne agent, Oxidising agent
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 Antiacne agentOxidising agent
Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Propanediol
Solvent, Viscosity decreasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 SolventViscosity decreasing agentViscosity controlling
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Binding agent, Film forming
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B Binding agentFilm formingViscosity increasing agentBindingOpacifyingViscosity controlling
Oligopeptide-68
Bleaching
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Bleaching
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 AntioxidantSkin conditioning
Glutathione
Fragrance, Reducing
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 FragranceReducing
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin conditioning, Skin conditioning miscellaneous
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioningSkin conditioning miscellaneous
Tall Oil Sterol
Emollient, Refatting
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A EmollientRefattingSkin conditioning
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin protecting
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin protecting
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent, Hair conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AstringentHair conditioningSkin conditioningSoothing
Arnica Montana Extract
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioning
Niacinamide
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningSmoothing
Azelaic Acid
Fragrance, Ph adjuster
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking
Echinacea Purpurea Adventitious Root
Humectant, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A HumectantSkin conditioningSkin conditioning emollient
+ 18 more — see the full ingredients list above
Glycolic Acid
Exfoliant, Ph adjuster
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B ExfoliantPh adjusterBuffering agent Good for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Higher-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 6–7 CIR B Antioxidant Good for Dry Skin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A CIR B Skin conditioning Good for Sensitive Skin
Zinc Oxide
Bulking agent, Cosmetic colorant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 2–3 Bulking agentCosmetic colorantSkin protectingSunscreen agent Good for Oily Skin
Alcohol
Antifoaming agent, Antimicrobial
Causes moisture evaporation - prone to dry out skinRead moreShow less
EWG 2 Antifoaming agentAntimicrobialAstringentMaskingSolventViscosity controlling Bad for Dry SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Citric Acid
Chelating agent, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Chelating agentFragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Dimethicone
Antifoaming agent, Skin protecting
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A Antifoaming agentSkin protectingEmollientSkin conditioning Silicone
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Sorbitan Stearate
Fragrance, Emulsifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceEmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Benzoic Acid
Fragrance, Ph adjuster
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A FragrancePh adjusterPreservativeBulking agentMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Apply after toner and before moisturiser — thinnest to thickest.
  • 2 Morning only: Apply as the last step of your AM routine, after moisturiser, and reapply every ~2 hours of sun exposure.
  • 3 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Often avoided
Retinoids (Vitamin A) (Retinyl Palmitate)

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.

Ask your doctor
Benzoyl Peroxide (Benzoyl Peroxide)

Often considered acceptable for limited spot use, but many clinicians prefer you check first.

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.

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

Retinoids (Vitamin A) 0.01–1%

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.

Retinyl Palmitate

Niacinamide 2–5% (up to 10%)

Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.

Niacinamide

AHA (acid exfoliant) 5–10% (OTC)

OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.

Glycolic Acid

Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5–10% (OTC)

Lower strengths (2.5–5%) work about as well as 10% for many people, with less dryness and irritation.

Benzoyl Peroxide

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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