urban-skin-rx Urban Skin Rx Dark Spot Rapid Repair Retinol Treatment

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Water
2. Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
3. Niacinamide
4. Kojic Acid
5. Polyacrylamide
6. Squalane
7. C13-C14 Isoparaffin
8. Sodium Hyaluronate
9. Glutathione
10. Retinyl Palmitate
11. Ascorbic Acid
12. Azelaic Acid
13. Alpha-Arbutin
14. Sodium Metabisulfite
15. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
16. Retinol
17. Ceramide 3
18. Glycerin
19. Centella Asiatica Extract
20. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
21. Malva Sylvestris Extract
22. Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract
23. Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
24. Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
25. Veronica Officinalis Extract
26. Achillea Millefolium Extract
27. Primula Veris Extract
28. Laureth-7
29. Polysorbate 20
30. Cetyl Palmitate
31. Triethanolamine
32. Polyhydroxybutyrate
33. Titanium Dioxide
34. Blue 1 Lake
35. Ethylene Distearamide
36. Ethylhexylglycerin
37. Phenoxyethanol

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains essential oilsContains animal-derivedContains fragranceContains EU-26 allergensContains PEG

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSqualane

SMOOTHING

Niacinamide

ANTIOXIDANT

Kojic Acid

ANTISTATIC

Polyacrylamide

HUMECTANT

Sodium Hyaluronate

REDUCING

Glutathione

Other ingredients

C13-C14 IsoparaffinRetinyl PalmitateAscorbic AcidAzelaic AcidAlpha-ArbutinSodium MetabisulfiteCaprylic/Capric TriglycerideRetinolCeramide 3GlycerinCentella Asiatica ExtractTetrahexyldecyl AscorbateMalva Sylvestris ExtractAlchemilla Vulgaris ExtractMelissa Officinalis Leaf ExtractMentha Piperita Leaf ExtractVeronica Officinalis ExtractAchillea Millefolium ExtractPrimula Veris ExtractLaureth-7Polysorbate 20Cetyl PalmitateTriethanolaminePolyhydroxybutyrateTitanium DioxideBlue 1 LakeEthylene DistearamideEthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Common in dry/damaged hair; superior penetration vs mineral oils, low comedogenic risk, poor oxidative stability.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide at 2–5%; improves texture, controls oil, brightens; high levels may cause sensitivity

Kojic Acid

Tyrosinase inhibitor for whitening; EU limit 1% in water, unstable and requires light protection, potential irritation.

Polyacrylamide

Film former and thickener for slip and feel; acrylamide monomer residue risk, strict QC required, restriction III/66

Squalane

Emollient from plants or synthetic; light texture

C13-C14 Isoparaffin

Not decoded yet

Sodium Hyaluronate

Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture

Glutathione

Antioxidant and brightening agent; unstable, requires antioxidants and protection from light.

Retinyl Palmitate

Vitamin A ester for skin conditioning; light-sensitive, requires protection, avoid in pregnancy.

Ascorbic Acid

Vitamin C, potent antioxidant requiring acidic environment for stability; oxidizes and discolors easily, needs light and air protection, concentration 1-10%, pure L-ascorbic acid is more irritating.

Azelaic Acid

Acne and pigment agent; 15-20% can be irritating, needs controlled release or lower doses.

Alpha-Arbutin

Whitening antioxidant, inhibits tyrosinase; use 1-2%, avoid strong acids

Sodium Metabisulfite

Antioxidant/preservative at 0.05–0.2%; irritating for sensitive skin, avoid with oxidizers

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Light occlusive and solvent at 1–10%; non-greasy feel, suitable for oily and combination skin

Retinol

Highly active and unstable, needs robust antioxidant encapsulation; 0.1-1.0%, pregnancy contraindicated

Ceramide 3

Ceramide 3 to restore skin barrier and moisturize; used at 0.01–1%, often blended

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Centella Asiatica Extract

Centella asiatica extract for soothing/repair; low irritation, common in sensitive skin products.

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Lipophilic Vitamin C derivative, antioxidant and brightening; more stable than VC, oil-soluble, must pair with oil phase

Malva Sylvestris Extract

Malva sylvestris extract, soothing astringent; polysaccharide-rich, low irritancy, check solvent residues.

Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract

Lady's mantle extract; botanical astringent, used in skin care and soothing formulas, low concentration.

Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract

Lemon balm extract for soothing; volatile oils, low allergy risk, light sensitive.

Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract

Mint extract for cooling sensation; contains menthol, mild irritation potential.

Veronica Officinalis Extract

Veronica officinalis extract, soothing and anti-inflammatory; botanical extract, potential allergy in some individuals

Achillea Millefolium Extract

Yarrow extract; chrysogenic content for soothing; contains essential oil components, assess phototoxicity and allergens

Primula Veris Extract

Primrose extract, anti-irritation; 0.1–0.5% typical, data limited, sensitization caution

Laureth-7

Mild non-ionic surfactant for emulsification and solubilization; biodegradable

Polysorbate 20

Non-ionic emulsifier and cleansing surfactant; contains PEG, control microbial load.

Cetyl Palmitate

Waxy ester increasing viscosity and providing heavy feel; used as emulsifier carrier, low comedogenicity, strong occlusion.

Triethanolamine

Triethanolamine for buffering; restricted, limit concentration to avoid high pH and irritation

Polyhydroxybutyrate

Not decoded yet

Titanium Dioxide

Physical UV filter and colorant up to 25%; nano form requires attention

Blue 1 Lake

Water-insoluble blue pigment dispersed in aqueous phase; ensure compliant use, no direct skin benefit

Ethylene Distearamide

Not decoded yet

Ethylhexylglycerin

Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

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