Garnier Skinactive Clearly Brighter Dark Spot Corrector

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. Aqua
2. Glycerin
3. Dimethicone
4. Octyldodecanol
5. Hydrogenated polyisobutene
6. Boron nitride
7. Silica
8. Ascorbyl Glucoside
9. Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer
10. Benzyl Alcohol
11. Benzyl salicylate
12. Butylene Glycol
13. Capryloyl salicylic acid
14. Carbomer
15. CI 77891
16. Citral
17. Citric Acid
18. Dipropylene glycol
19. Disodium EDTA
20. Geraniol
21. Limonene
22. Linalool
23. Nymphaea alba
24. PEG/PPG-18/18 dimethicone
25. Phenoxyethanol
26. Phenylethyl Resorcinol
27. Sodium Citrate
28. Sodium Hydroxide
29. Sodium Palmitoyl Proline
30. Synthetic fluorphlogopite
31. Tocopherol
32. Tocopheryl Acetate
33. Xanthan Gum
34. Parfum

Highlights

Free of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of formaldehyde releasersContains siliconesContains mineral oilContains alcoholContains EU-26 allergensContains essential oilsContains fragranceContains PEG

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

Aqua

DENATURANT

Glycerin

ANTIFOAMING

Dimethicone

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

OctyldodecanolHydrogenated polyisobutene

BULKING

Boron nitride

ABRASIVE

Silica

ANTIOXIDANT

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Other ingredients

Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymerBenzyl AlcoholBenzyl salicylateButylene GlycolCapryloyl salicylic acidCarbomerCI 77891CitralCitric AcidDipropylene glycolDisodium EDTAGeraniolLimoneneLinaloolNymphaea albaPEG/PPG-18/18 dimethiconePhenoxyethanolPhenylethyl ResorcinolSodium CitrateSodium HydroxideSodium Palmitoyl ProlineSynthetic fluorphlogopiteTocopherolTocopheryl AcetateXanthan GumParfum

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

Glycerin

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

Dimethicone

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

Octyldodecanol

Light emollient/emulsifier at 1-5%; low comedogenic, non-greasy feel, broadly compatible, sensitive-skin friendly.

Hydrogenated polyisobutene

Hydrogenated polyisobutene; petroleum-derived lubricant forming breathable film; high purity, low irritation/comedogenicity.

Boron nitride

Flake-shaped inorganic filler for slip and bulk in powders; control particle size to minimize inhalation risk

Silica

Silica powder at 1–10%; absorbs oil, thickens, provides matte finish, for oil-control products

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Stable Vitamin C derivative, antioxidant; more stable than pure ascorbic acid, releases activity slowly in neutral/basic conditions.

Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer

Crosspolymer for thickening/film; needs neutralization to pH 7-8 to hydrate, check ion strength.

Benzyl Alcohol

Mild preservative/solvent at 0.5-1.0%; EU allergen (labeling required), irritation risk if concentrated, avoid in infant/highly sensitive skin.

Benzyl salicylate

UV absorber/light stabilizer, restricted in EU; potential sensitizer, risk assessment needed.

Butylene Glycol

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

Capryloyl salicylic acid

Oil-soluble salicylic acid derivative for gentle pore unclogging; milder than BHA, suitable for daily acne care.

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

CI 77891

Titanium dioxide inorganic pigment and UV filter; assess inhalation risk for nano-forms and EU restrictions

Citral

Citral; citrus fragrance component, listed EU allergen, high phototoxicity risk, strict concentration limits apply.

Citric Acid

Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH

Dipropylene glycol

Solvent for essential oils; better humectancy than PEG

Disodium EDTA

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

Geraniol

Geraniol for fragrance; EU 26 allergen, labeling required above 0.001%.

Limonene

Natural fragrance solvent, EU allergen; poor photostability

Linalool

Natural fragrance component at ≤0.05%; one of EU 26 allergens, caution for sensitive skin

Nymphaea alba

Not decoded yet

PEG/PPG-18/18 dimethicone

PEG/PPG siloxane; emulsifier/thickener; low irrit, watch PEG total conc limits

Phenoxyethanol

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

Phenylethyl Resorcinol

Phenylethyl resorcinol, antioxidant/whitening at 0.1–1%; inhibits tyrosinase, watch compatibility with high-dose VC.

Sodium Citrate

Sodium citrate for buffering and chelating; adjust pH, careful with strong acid reactions.

Sodium Hydroxide

Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care

Sodium Palmitoyl Proline

Amino acid derivative for mild cleansing and conditioning; also acts as humectant.

Synthetic fluorphlogopite

Mica filler at 1-10%; luster/thickening, inert, verify mineral purity, no public comedogenic data.

Tocopherol

Natural antioxidant (vitamin E) at 0.1–1%; prone to oxidation, store protected from light

Tocopheryl Acetate

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

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

Parfum

Fragrance for scent; may contain allergens, caution for sensitive skin, full labeling required.