Obagi clear
Obagi obagi clear lists 19 ingredients on its label, 19 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 alcoholFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains parabensContains fragranceContains siliconesContains PEGContains sulfates
Formulation view This cream uses cetyl and stearyl alcohols for emulsion, providing a rich texture. Key actives include hydroquinone, ascorbic acid, and lactic acid, forming an acidic combination. BHT and sodium metabisulfite work for antioxidants. Preserved by parabens, with chelators for stability. Suitable for resilient skin at night. Factory view: high actives affect emulsion stability; light-shielding packaging is essential.
Key ingredients
- 美白剂
- Hydroquinone Usp
- ANTIOXIDANT
- Ascorbic AcidBHT
- FRAGRANCE
- Butylparaben
- SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT
- Cetyl Alcohol
- CHELATING
- Disodium EDTA
- DENATURANT
- Glycerin
- BUFFERING
- Lactic Acid
Other ingredients
MethylparabenPhenyl TrimethiconePPG-2 Myristyl Ether PropionatePropylparabenSaponinsSodium Lauryl SulfateSodium MetabisulfiteTeaStearyl AlcoholTocopheryl AcetateWater
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydroquinone Usp | 美白剂 | 2 · 0 | Green |
| Ascorbic Acid | ANTIOXIDANT, BUFFERING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING | 2 · 0 | Green |
| BHT | ANTIOXIDANT, FRAGRANCE · 限制 III / 325 | 0 · 0 | Yellow |
| Butylparaben | FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/12a | 0 · 0 | Yellow |
| Cetyl Alcohol | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, EMULSION STABILISING, SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, FRAGRANCE, OPACIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 1 · 1 | Green |
| Disodium EDTA | CHELATING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Lactic Acid | BUFFERING, HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Methylparaben | FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/12 | 0 · 0 | Yellow |
| Phenyl Trimethicone | ANTIFOAMING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING - OCCLUSIVE | 0 · – | Green |
| PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 2 | Green |
| Propylparaben | PRESERVATIVE, PERFUMING · 限制 V/12 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Saponins | CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate | CLEANSING, DENATURANT, FOAMING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 4 · 0 | Yellow |
| Sodium Metabisulfite | ANTIOXIDANT, PRESERVATIVE, REDUCING · 限制 III/99 V/9 | 3 · 0 | Yellow |
| Tea | 抗氧化剂,皮肤调理剂 | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Stearyl Alcohol | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, EMULSION STABILISING, SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, FRAGRANCE, OPACIFYING, REFATTING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 3 | Green |
| Tocopheryl Acetate | ANTIOXIDANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Water | ANTIPLAQUE, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
Ingredients explained
- Hydroquinone Usp
- Potent bleaching agent inhibiting melanin; strictly regulated, assess skin irritation and systemic toxicity risks.
- 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.
- BHT
- Lipophilic antioxidant at 0.01-0.05%; ineffective with acidic systems, label-sensitive, check regulatory limits as preservative alternative.
- Butylparaben
- Butylparaben preservative; low concentrations; potential endocrine concerns, regulatory limits apply.
- Cetyl Alcohol
- Cetyl alcohol for emulsification/thickening; high concentration >10% may irritate.
- Disodium EDTA
- Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Lactic Acid
- AHA pH adjuster at 0.5-5%; exfoliation/humectancy, mild at low conc., irritating at high, avoid conflict with alkaline preservatives.
- Methylparaben
- Preservative, narrow spectrum; often combined, check allergen risk and regulatory limits.
- Phenyl Trimethicone
- Aromatic modified silicone for high gloss and occlusion; inert, non-volatile, may leave surface residue
- PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
- Non-ionic emollient for skin conditioning; contains PPG structure.
- Propylparaben
- Medium-chain preservative; restricted use, pH-sensitive efficacy.
- Saponins
- Saponins, natural non-ionic surfactants providing mild foam; diverse botanical sources (e.g., soy, licorice) require allergen screening.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Strong anionic surfactant, high foam; high irritation risk, avoid in sensitive formulas.
- Sodium Metabisulfite
- Antioxidant/preservative at 0.05–0.2%; irritating for sensitive skin, avoid with oxidizers
- Tea
- Tea extract with polyphenols; high antioxidant activity, batch variability, monitor concentration
- Stearyl Alcohol
- Stearic alcohol; fatty alcohol for emulsion thickening/structure, often blended with soaps, moderate comedogenicity.
- Tocopheryl Acetate
- Vitamin E derivative antioxidant at 0.1–1%; more stable than tocopherol, store protected from light
- Water
- Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-17. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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