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Carbon Theory Tea Tree Oil & Vitamin A Breakout Control Spot Paste
Carbon Theory

Carbon Theory Tea Tree Oil & Vitamin A Breakout Control Spot Paste

Efficacy50/100IrritancyHigh
See all ingredients

Works for

Anti-blemish
Retinyl palmitate
Not delivered
What the product description says
“With over 50 applications in one jar, Carbon Theory’s lab formulated breakout control Spot Paste is an intensive direct spot/zit/blemish treatment that eliminates spots and reduces redness.”
Source: Boots

This product contains ingredients (retinyl palmitate) that could help reduce blemishes and clogged pores in theory, but there is not enough evidence that they actually work.

Retinyl palmitateEffect: MediumThree steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect~0.55–1.3%
Evens skin tone
Side benefit the brand mentions · Retinyl palmitate
May help
What the product description says
“With over 50 applications in one jar, Carbon Theory’s lab formulated breakout control Spot Paste is an intensive direct spot/zit/blemish treatment that eliminates spots and reduces redness.”
Source: Boots

The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: retinyl palmitate.

Retinyl palmitateKey activeEffect: MediumThree steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect~0.55–1.3%
Anti-aging
Side benefit · Retinyl palmitate, Tocopherol
May help

This product contains retinyl palmitate. This ingredient might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.

Retinyl palmitateKey activeEffect: MediumThree steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect~0.55–1.3%
TocopherolEffect: Low, below effective dosePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.2–0.75%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
3 strong irritants: Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, Retinyl palmitate + 1 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 4 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oilAn essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial propertiesHigh~1.3–1.9%est.
Retinyl palmitateThree steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effectHigh~0.55–1.3%est.
LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.1–0.45%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~1.1–1.6%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Zinc oxide~39–59%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Sun protection

A broad spectrum sunblock (protects from both UVA and UVB rays). Is suitable for most sensitive skins. In small concentrations, can be used as a colorant

More about Zinc oxide
Propanediol~4.5–6.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin

More about Propanediol
Water~3.8–5.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Polysorbate 20~2.7–4.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Polysorbate 20
Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil~1.3–1.9%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Antibacterial

An essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties

More about Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil
Ethylhexylglycerin~1.1–1.6%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Retinyl palmitate~0.55–1.3%
Key activeIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-blemishAnti-agingEvens skin toneExfoliation

Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect

More about Retinyl palmitate
Tocopherol~0.2–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-oxidationAnti-agingAnti-inflammatoryMoisturizing

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol
Limonene~0.1–0.45%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat

More about Limonene
Silver~0.05–0.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Silver
Ingredient list view

Zinc oxide, Propanediol, Water, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Retinyl palmitate, Tocopherol, Limonene, Silver

Compare prices

Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.

🇦🇺 Recreate Yourself (AU)30 ml
≈ $13.50
Buy
🇬🇧 Boots (UK)
≈ $24.11
Buy
🇦🇺 Amazon Australia (AU)
Price unavailable Out of stock
Check
🇬🇧 Amazon UK (UK)
Price unavailable Out of stock
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🇬🇧 Beauty Bay (UK)
Price unavailable
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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
Carbon TheoryTea Tree Oil & Vitamin A Breakout Control Spot PasteYOUR PRODUCTEmerginCBlemish Control Tinted TreatmentREVOLUTION SKINCAREOvernight Targeted Blemish LotionIntraceuticalsOpulence Brightening Wand
Match—30%28%28%
Price—$38.20$6.63$48.70
Shared key ingredients—1 of 31 of 31 of 3
Key difference—Salicylic AcidNiacinamideNonapeptide-1
Irritancy High Medium Low Medium
Drying alcohol— Contains drying alcohol Contains drying alcohol —
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 7 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    A review of inorganic UV filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxideonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  2. 2
    Risk assessment of zinc oxide, a cosmetic ingredient used as a UV filter of sunscreensncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Characterization of the UVA protection provided by avobenzone, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide in broad-spectrum sunscreen productsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4
    Ultraviolet Protection Properties of Commercial Sunscreens and Sunscreens Containing Zno Nanorodsiopscience.iop.org
  5. 5
    ZnO nanoparticles and organic chemical UV-filters are equally well tolerated by human immune cellsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. 6
    Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Carbon Theory Tea Tree Oil & Vitamin A Breakout Control Spot Paste
Carbon TheoryTea Tree Oil & Vitamin A Breakout Control Spot Paste
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Find on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.