CLINIQUE Dramatically Different Gel

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. Dimethicone
3. Isododecane
4. Butylene Glycol
5. Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
6. Glycerin
7. Laminaria Saccharina Extract
8. Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
9. Saccharomyces Lysate Extract
10. Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
11. Hordeum vulgare
12. Helianthus Annuus Seedcake
13. Caffeine
14. Trehalose
15. Sodium Hyaluronate
16. Tocopheryl Acetate
17. Chamomilla Recutita
18. Polysilicone-11
19. Silica
20. Propylene glycol dicaprate
21. Oleth-10
22. Lactobacillus ferment
23. Laureth-23
24. Laureth-4
25. Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
26. Carbomer
27. Caprylyl Glycol
28. Hexylene Glycol
29. Tromethamine
30. Disodium EDTA
31. Phenoxyethanol
32. Potassium Sorbate
33. Yellow 5
34. CI 14700
35. CI 15985

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of fragranceFree of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of formaldehyde releasersContains siliconesContains mineral oilContains PEGContains EU-26 allergensContains essential oils

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

ANTIFOAMING

Dimethicone

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

IsododecaneBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane

HUMECTANT

Butylene Glycol

DENATURANT

Glycerin

SKIN PROTECTING

Laminaria Saccharina Extract

ANTIOXIDANT

Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract

Other ingredients

Saccharomyces Lysate ExtractCucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractHordeum vulgareHelianthus Annuus SeedcakeCaffeineTrehaloseSodium HyaluronateTocopheryl AcetateChamomilla RecutitaPolysilicone-11SilicaPropylene glycol dicaprateOleth-10Lactobacillus fermentLaureth-23Laureth-4Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP CopolymerCarbomerCaprylyl GlycolHexylene GlycolTromethamineDisodium EDTAPhenoxyethanolPotassium SorbateYellow 5CI 14700CI 15985

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

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

Dimethicone

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

Isododecane

Synthetic hydrocarbon solvent providing dry, silky skin feel; high volatility, non-comedogenic, common in sunscreens and foundations, usage 5-30%.

Butylene Glycol

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

Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane

Silicone modifier for smoothness; contains PEG, used for foam and cleansing, manage PEG residuals

Glycerin

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

Laminaria Saccharina Extract

Seaweed-derived hydrating skin protectant rich in polysaccharides; filter to prevent microbial contamination

Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract

Polygonum cuspidatum root extract, source of resveratrol antioxidant; water or alcohol soluble, check color shift with iron ions

Saccharomyces Lysate Extract

Yeast lysate humectant and conditioner; rich in amino acids and NMF, strong barrier repair

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract

Botanical extract for conditioning; note extraction impact on active retention

Hordeum vulgare

Not decoded yet

Helianthus Annuus Seedcake

Sunflower seed cake; physical exfoliant and bulking agent. Coarse texture, use caution for sensitive skin, requires homogenization.

Caffeine

Active ingredient, 0.1–2%; promotes circulation, irritation risk at high concentration.

Trehalose

Trehalose; mild humectant and stabilizer for proteins/actives; hygroscopic, light skin feel.

Sodium Hyaluronate

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

Tocopheryl Acetate

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

Chamomilla Recutita

Chamomile extract; soothing/antiallergic, label essential-oil allergens

Polysilicone-11

Not decoded yet

Silica

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

Propylene glycol dicaprate

Lightweight emollient ester; replaces mineral oils with non-greasy feel; good for oily skin systems

Oleth-10

Not decoded yet

Lactobacillus ferment

Probiotic ferment filtrate for conditioning; complex mix, check allergens and preservative residues

Laureth-23

Not decoded yet

Laureth-4

Not decoded yet

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer

Cationic polymer providing suspension, thickening, and conditioning; often paired with anionic thickening systems, low usage, imparts slip.

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Caprylyl Glycol

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

Hexylene Glycol

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

Tromethamine

pH adjuster, alkaline; precise dosing required

Disodium EDTA

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

Phenoxyethanol

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

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative effective below pH 6; combinable with sodium benzoate

Yellow 5

Synthetic dye for color; known allergen, may irritate sensitive skin.

CI 14700

Red azo dye restricted to hair dye products only; not for leave-on or general skin care

CI 15985

Synthetic colorant Yellow 4; known maximum usage limits, potential allergy for some, add per regulations with batch records.