Clinicians Complex 6% Skin Bleaching Cream
Works for
3 of 3 advertised claims delivered
Evens skin toneHydroquinone, Kojic acid + 1 moreStrong evidence
“Improve skin's tone with Clinicians Complex 6% Skin Bleaching Cream, a gentle yet potent solution that utilizes three skin-brightening ingredients to help reduce the appearance of pigmentation and discoloration.”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: hydroquinone.
In addition, this product contains kojic acid. This ingredient (ingredients) might help reduce hyperpigmentation, but the effect, if any, is likely to be small.
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
MoisturizingParaffinum liquidum, Glycerin + 6 moreStrong evidence
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
glycerin.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: paraffinum liquidum, cetyl alcohol.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: paraffinum liquidum
Anti-agingMagnesium ascorbyl phosphateModerate evidence
This product contains kojic acid. This ingredient help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they might be able to prevent early signs of aging (like fine lines and wrinkles), at least to some extent. These ingredients will not be able to "reverse" signs of aging.
Anti-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · Kojic acid, Vitis vinifera fruit extract + 2 moreStrong evidence
This product contains antioxidants (kojic acid) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy4 strong irritants: Alcohol, Rosa damascena extract + 2 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale2 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Paraffinum liquidum~5.8–8.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Mineral oil. One of the most effective and well studied occlusive and emollient moisturizing ingredients. Helps reduce moisture loss in skin and repair skin barrier function
More about Paraffinum liquidumGlyceryl stearate~3.3–4.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearateSodium lauryl sulfate~2.9–4.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
A cleansing agent (SLS). It can be irritating
More about Sodium lauryl sulfatePoloxamer 188~2–3%
Alcohol~1.6–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties
More about AlcoholRosa damascena extract~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
Oil of a very fragrant pink rose used as fragrance in cosmetics. Extensive research has shown it has mixed benefits. In the pro column, inhaling this flower’s scent seems to have relaxing properties and the plant’s petals contain skin-soothing and antioxidant compounds that can benefit skin. On the flipside, the numerous chemicals that create this rose’s distinctive fragrance pose a risk of causing skin aggravation.
More about Rosa damascena extractAnanas sativus fruit extract~1.2–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A fruit extract that might help to attract water to the upper layer of the skin, but there is no evidence for any other benefits to the skin
More about Ananas sativus fruit extractVitis vinifera fruit extract~0.95–1.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. It might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals in skin, but is less potent than the extract from the seeds
More about Vitis vinifera fruit extractHydroquinone~0.6–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
A potent anti-pigmentation active. It can have serious side-effects though and ideally is used under supervision of a doctor. It should not be used over a long period of time (over a year).
More about HydroquinoneKojic acid~0.5–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and neutralize free radicals. Can be irritating
More about Kojic acidElaeis guineensis extract~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Cetyl alcohol~0.45–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
More about Cetyl alcoholRosa damascena extract~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- High
Oil of a very fragrant pink rose used as fragrance in cosmetics. Extensive research has shown it has mixed benefits. In the pro column, inhaling this flower’s scent seems to have relaxing properties and the plant’s petals contain skin-soothing and antioxidant compounds that can benefit skin. On the flipside, the numerous chemicals that create this rose’s distinctive fragrance pose a risk of causing skin aggravation.
More about Rosa damascena extractGlycerin~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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 GlycerinMagnesium ascorbyl phosphate~0.35–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A derivative of vitamin C that is more stable, but less bioavailable than the pure form of vitamin C. It does not penetrate the skin well, but has been shown to convert to pure vitamin C once in skin. It can be helpful in stimulating collagen production and lightening the skin tone, but the required concentration is likely to be very high
More about Magnesium ascorbyl phosphateStearyl alcohol~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin
More about Stearyl alcoholEthylhexyl palmitate~0.3–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient that helps soften the skin and create a nice product texture
More about Ethylhexyl palmitateTocopheryl acetate~0.2–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateCetyl esters~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften upper layer of the skin and can enhance penetration of other ingredients into the upper layer of the skin
More about Cetyl estersPeg-40 stearate~0.15–0.55%
Hydroxyethylcellulose~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures
More about HydroxyethylcellulosePropylene glycol~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
More about Propylene glycolSodium sulfite~0.05–0.2%
Sodium metabisulfite~0.05–0.2%
Diazolidinyl urea~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
A preservative. Works by releasing formaldehyde. Can be irritating
More about Diazolidinyl ureaMethylparaben~0.05–0.1%
Propylparaben~0.01–0.1%
Ingredient list view
Water, Paraffinum liquidum, Glyceryl stearate, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Poloxamer 188, Alcohol, Rosa damascena extract, Ananas sativus fruit extract, Vitis vinifera fruit extract, Hydroquinone, Kojic acid, Unknown, Elaeis guineensis extract, Cetyl alcohol, Rosa damascena extract, Glycerin, Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, Stearyl alcohol, Ethylhexyl palmitate, Tocopheryl acetate, Cetyl esters, Peg-40 stearate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propylene glycol, Sodium sulfite, Sodium metabisulfite, Diazolidinyl urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
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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.
| Clinicians Complex6% Skin Bleaching CreamYOUR PRODUCT | fabUltra Repair Hydra-Firm Night Cream | First Aid BeautyUltra Repair Cream Peppermint Twist | All Purpose CreamsAPH Hydroquinone Cream | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 57% | 56% | 55% |
| Price | — | $44.00 | $70.00 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 4 |
| Key difference | — | Colloidal Oatmeal | Lanolin | Dimethicone |
| Irritancy | High | High | High | High |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
"Clinicians Complex - 6% Skin Bleaching Cream" has a good moisturizing formula. The formulation is based on a combination of good humectants and emollients. Both are needed to increase the skin hydration level. Humectants in this product (glycerin) help to increase the water content in the upper layer of the skin. (These ingredients do so by "capturing" water molecules from the outside air or from within the deeper layers of the skin). Emollients in this formulation (paraffinum liquidum, cetyl alcohol, cetyl esters, ethylhexyl palmitate and glyceryl stearate) help to reduce the moisture loss from the skin. They also soften the skin surface and relieve the feeling of dryness and tightness.
Irritation risk
There are quite a few common irritants in this product, including ingredients without particular skin benefits. We would not recommend it for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be high. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails for 49.00$ in the United States and for 65.10CA$ in Canada.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 13 studies and safety reviews.
- 1A review on the extensive skin benefits of mineral oilncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2
- 3TOPICAL TREATMENT OF MELASMAncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4
- 5
- 6
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