differin Dark Spot Correcting Treatment
differin Differin Dark Spot Correcting Treatment lists 14 ingredients on its label, 14 decoded. See what each one does, its irritancy and comedogenic tendency, and its status in national inventories.
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.
Highlights
Free of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains alcoholContains EU-26 allergensContains fragranceContains mineral oilContains PEG
Key ingredients
- ANTIOXIDANT
- Hydroquinone
- SKIN CONDITIONING
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- 溶剂
- Alcohol Denat
- DEODORANT
- Caprylyl Glycol
- BUFFERING
- Citric Acid
- CHELATING
- Disodium EDTA
- 矫味剂
- Fragrance
- SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT
- Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Other ingredients
HydroxyethylcellulosePEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPolysorbate 20Sodium MetabisulfiteSodium SulfiteWater
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydroquinone | ANTIOXIDANT, BLEACHING, HAIR DYEING, FRAGRANCE, REDUCING · 限制 II/1339 III/14 | 3 · – | Yellow |
| 1,2-Hexanediol | SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Alcohol Denat | 溶剂,皮肤调理剂 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Caprylyl Glycol | DEODORANT, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Citric Acid | BUFFERING, CHELATING, FRAGRANCE | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Disodium EDTA | CHELATING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Fragrance | 矫味剂,增香剂 | — | Yellow |
| Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · – | Green |
| Hydroxyethylcellulose | BINDING, EMULSION STABILISING, FILM FORMING, LIGHT STABILIZER, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 1 · 2 | Green |
| Polysorbate 20 | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Metabisulfite | ANTIOXIDANT, PRESERVATIVE, REDUCING · 限制 III/99 V/9 | 3 · 0 | Yellow |
| Sodium Sulfite | ANTIOXIDANT, HAIR WAVING OR STRAIGHTENING, REDUCING · 限制 III/99 V/9 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Water | ANTIPLAQUE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
Ingredients explained
- Hydroquinone
- Melanin inhibitor restricted in EU cosmetics; primarily industrial or intermediate use; strict compliance required
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- Polyol solvent and preservative booster at 1–5%; light feel, can replace some traditional preservatives
- Alcohol Denat
- Denatured ethanol; solvent, penetration enhancer, and quick-dry agent; high % may compromise barrier in dry skin.
- Caprylyl Glycol
- Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol
- Citric Acid
- Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH
- Disodium EDTA
- Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy
- Fragrance
- Fragrance; concentration must control allergen risk, label specific components
- Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
- Sea buckthorn oil rich in carotenoids; viscous and may stain light formulations.
- Hydroxyethylcellulose
- Water-soluble cellulose ether for thickening and suspension stabilization; sensitive to ions, electrolytes reduce viscosity, use at pH 7-8.
- PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
- Solubilizer and emulsifier for oil-soluble ingredients; high concentrations may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive skin.
- Polysorbate 20
- Non-ionic emulsifier and cleansing surfactant; contains PEG, control microbial load.
- Sodium Metabisulfite
- Antioxidant/preservative at 0.05–0.2%; irritating for sensitive skin, avoid with oxidizers
- Sodium Sulfite
- Sulfite antioxidant to prevent oxidation; sulfites are known allergens and must be strictly declared on labels.
- Water
- Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-19. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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