obagi Retinol 1.0

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. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
2. Glyceryl Stearate
3. Cyclopentasiloxane
4. Butylene Glycol
5. Stearic Acid
6. Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
7. Polysorbate 60
8. Stearyl Alcohol
9. Glycerin
10. Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer
11. Retinol
12. Polysorbate 20
13. Dimethicone
14. Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
15. Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
16. Hypericum Perforatum Flower Extract
17. Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract
18. Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
19. Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
20. Cyclohexasiloxane
21. Sorbitol
22. Tocopheryl Acetate
23. Ascorbic Acid
24. Ubiquinone
25. Sodium Hyaluronate
26. Propylene Glycol
27. BHT
28. Bisabolol
29. Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
30. Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
31. Disodium EDTA
32. Triethanolamine
33. Carbomer
34. Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
35. Caprylyl Glycol
36. Ethylhexylglycerin
37. Hexylene Glycol
38. Phenoxyethanol

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of fragranceFree of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains siliconesContains PEGContains essential oils

Key ingredients

FRAGRANCE

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Glyceryl StearateCyclopentasiloxaneStearyl Alcohol

HUMECTANT

Butylene Glycol

CLEANSING

Stearic Acid

SKIN CONDITIONING

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING

Polysorbate 60

Other ingredients

GlycerinAllyl Methacrylates CrosspolymerRetinolPolysorbate 20DimethiconeSimmondsia Chinensis Seed OilChamomilla Recutita Flower ExtractHypericum Perforatum Flower ExtractMalva Sylvestris Flower ExtractSalvia Officinalis Leaf ExtractSambucus Nigra Flower ExtractCyclohexasiloxaneSorbitolTocopheryl AcetateAscorbic AcidUbiquinoneSodium HyaluronatePropylene GlycolBHTBisabololDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerDipotassium GlycyrrhizateDisodium EDTATriethanolamineCarbomerGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid CopolymerCaprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerinHexylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

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

Glyceryl Stearate

Emulsifier at 1-3%; may require acid to prevent saponification

Cyclopentasiloxane

Cyclopentasiloxane for emollient/solvent; volatile silicone, smooth feel, check VOC regulations.

Butylene Glycol

Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel

Stearic Acid

Fatty acid emulsifier, white waxy solid; adds slip feel

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Shea butter for occlusive moisturizing; high melt point, rich texture, caution for oily skin.

Polysorbate 60

Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer for O/W or W/O stability; may cause mild stinging on sensitive skin, typically 1-5%.

Stearyl Alcohol

Stearic alcohol; fatty alcohol for emulsion thickening/structure, often blended with soaps, moderate comedogenicity.

Glycerin

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

Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer

Film-forming and thickening polymer for emulsion stabilization; watch double bond residue and crosslinker reaction.

Retinol

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

Polysorbate 20

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

Dimethicone

Silicone occlusive at 1–5%; provides smooth feel, non-penetrating, suitable for sensitive skin

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

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

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Plant extract, soothing properties; contains natural allergens, high levels may irritate.

Hypericum Perforatum Flower Extract

Hypericum flower extract; antioxidant and soothing via flavonoids. Notable photosensitivity; use with sunscreen in daytime.

Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract

Botanical for skin conditioning and soothing; high levels of crude extracts may sensitize.

Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract

Herbal extract for seborrhea control, antibacterial action, and oral care; high levels may irritate sensitive skin.

Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract

Plant extract for soothing and toning; high levels of crude extracts may sensitize.

Cyclohexasiloxane

Volatile cyclic silicone evaporating without residue; ensure compliance with EU limits on cyclic polydimethylsiloxanes, use octamer

Sorbitol

Polyol humectant with strong hygroscopy; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives; also a solvent or adjuster.

Tocopheryl Acetate

Vitamin E derivative antioxidant at 0.1–1%; more stable than tocopherol, store protected from light

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.

Ubiquinone

Coenzyme Q10 analog used as an antioxidant; prone to discoloration, needs protection from light and air.

Sodium Hyaluronate

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

Propylene Glycol

Polyol humectant at 3-10%; hygroscopic, slight tackiness, mild irritation at high conc., verify preservative efficacy, no allergen.

BHT

Lipophilic antioxidant at 0.01-0.05%; ineffective with acidic systems, label-sensitive, check regulatory limits as preservative alternative.

Bisabolol

Soothing and anti-inflammatory agent, 0.01–0.1%; low irritation, good for sensitive skin.

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Crosslinked silicone thickener at 0.5-2%; silky/matte feel, non-comedogenic, partial oil phase incompatibility, use co-solvent/pre-emulsification.

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate for moisturizing/soothing; inhibits 5-LOX, water-soluble, for sensitive skin.

Disodium EDTA

Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy

Triethanolamine

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

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

Acrylate copolymer for thickening and moisturizing; synthetic polymer with low sensitization risk.

Caprylyl Glycol

Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol

Ethylhexylglycerin

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

Hexylene Glycol

Polyol solvent and humectant with penetration enhancement; limit concentration to avoid irritation, no specific allergen tag

Phenoxyethanol

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

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