Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser

Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser

Efficacy50/100IrritancyMedium

Works for

Cleansing
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl betaine + 3 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser”
Source: Sephora

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (cocamidopropyl betaine, coco-glucoside, sodium laurate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, xanthan gum) and should be able to cleanse the skin gently. Still keep in mind that any cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.

Even though this formulation is mild, the following cleansing agents could trigger an irritation or allergy for some people: cocamidopropyl betaine, coco-glucoside

Sodium lauroyl sarcosinateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent~10–13%
Cocamidopropyl betaineEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen~4.5–5.5%
Coco-glucosideEffect: HighUsed as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating~1.6–1.9%
Sodium laurateEffect: High~0.65–0.95%
Xanthan gumEffect: HighUsed to create a thicker product consistency~0.5–0.75%
Exfoliation
Microcrystalline cellulose
Not delivered
What the product description says
“One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser”
Source: Sephora

This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.

Microcrystalline celluloseEffect: Low~0.95–1.15%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
2 strong irritants: Parfum, Melissa officinalis leaf extract
Medium risk
We flagged 14 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Cocamidopropyl betaineHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergenHigh~4.5–5.5%est.
Coco-glucosideUsed as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritatingHigh~1.6–1.9%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.45–0.65%est.
Actinidia chinensis fruit extractA plant extract that might have some anti-oxidant properties, but evidence of effectiveness in skin is lackingHigh~0.35–0.6%est.
Melissa officinalis leaf extractA plant extract that is added for its fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.2–0.4%est.
Ci 73360A red (pink) dyeHigh~0.1–0.15%est.
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinateHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agentMedium~10–13%est.
Acrylates copolymerUsed to stabilize product formulation, help create an even product layer over skin (for example, in sunscreen) and create a thicker product consistencyMedium~1.9–2.3%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~1.1–1.4%est.
Jojoba estersAn emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier functionMedium~0.5–0.75%est.
Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~0.45–0.7%est.
Disodium edtaStabilizes the product formulationMedium~0.35–0.65%est.
Potassium sorbateA preservativeMedium~0.1–0.2%est.
Moringa oleifera seed extractHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and might have some antioxidant effectMedium~0.05–0.1%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Ci 73360A red (pink) dye2/5~0.1–0.15%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~45–55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate~10–13%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent

More about Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate
Glycerin~4.2–5.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Cocamidopropyl betaine~4.5–5.5%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen

More about Cocamidopropyl betaine
Propanediol~2.3–2.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

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

More about Propanediol
Acrylates copolymer~1.9–2.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Used to stabilize product formulation, help create an even product layer over skin (for example, in sunscreen) and create a thicker product consistency

More about Acrylates copolymer
Cellulose~1.7–2.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Mattifying

Can be used to help absorb oil as well as add volume and imporve texture of products.

More about Cellulose
Coco-glucoside~1.6–1.9%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Used as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating

More about Coco-glucoside
Citric acid~1.1–1.4%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH

More about Citric acid
Phenoxyisopropanol~0.5–1%
Formula
Microcrystalline cellulose~0.95–1.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Exfoliation
More about Microcrystalline cellulose
Sodium chloride~0.65–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures

More about Sodium chloride
Sodium laurate~0.65–0.95%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Sodium laurate
Xanthan gum~0.5–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum
Parfum~0.45–0.65%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Jojoba esters~0.5–0.75%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function

More about Jojoba esters
Caprylyl glycol~0.45–0.7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol
Disodium edta~0.35–0.65%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Stabilizes the product formulation

More about Disodium edta
Actinidia chinensis fruit extract~0.35–0.6%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-oxidation

A plant extract that might have some anti-oxidant properties, but evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking

More about Actinidia chinensis fruit extract
Sodium benzoate~0.25–0.45%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative

More about Sodium benzoate
Melissa officinalis leaf extract~0.2–0.4%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A plant extract that is added for its fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Melissa officinalis leaf extract
Saponaria officinalis leaf extract~0.3–0.5%
Formula
Gentiana lutea extract~0.2–0.4%
Formula
Ci 77492~0.15–0.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A colorant. Usually well-tolerated

More about Ci 77492
Potassium sorbate~0.1–0.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Potassium sorbate
Talc~0.25–0.45%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Absorbs oil and moisture helping to create a dryer product finish

More about Talc
Ci 73360~0.1–0.15%
Comedogenic 2/5Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Comedogenicity
2/5

A red (pink) dye

More about Ci 73360
Maltodextrin~0.05–0.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Mattifying

Used to stabilize the product formulation and can help absorb oil

More about Maltodextrin
Moringa oleifera seed extract~0.05–0.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidation

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and might have some antioxidant effect

More about Moringa oleifera seed extract
Ingredient list view

Water, Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Propanediol, Acrylates copolymer, Cellulose, Coco-glucoside, Citric acid, Phenoxyisopropanol, Microcrystalline cellulose, Sodium chloride, Sodium laurate, Xanthan gum, Parfum, Jojoba esters, Caprylyl glycol, Disodium edta, Actinidia chinensis fruit extract, Sodium benzoate, Melissa officinalis leaf extract, Saponaria officinalis leaf extract, Gentiana lutea extract, Ci 77492, Potassium sorbate, Talc, Ci 73360, Maltodextrin, Moringa oleifera seed extract

Compare prices

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Amazon USPrice as of 11/7 09:11 GMT
$40.00
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Sephora
$40.00
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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
ClarinsOne-Step Gentle Exfoliating CleanserYOUR PRODUCTThe INKEY List CAGlycerin Gentle Purifying CleanserREVOLUTION SKINCAREPurifying Facial Gel Cleanser with NiacinamideZiajaSensitive Creamy Wash Gel For Face And Body
Match—41%41%41%
Price$40.00$19.00−$21.00—$8.82−$31.18
Shared key ingredients—4 of 74 of 74 of 7
Key difference—Centella Asiatica ExtractNiacinamidePanthenol
Irritancy Medium Low Low Low
Drying alcohol————
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Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.