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Clinicians Complex Skin Bleaching Cleanser
Clinicians Complex

Clinicians Complex Skin Bleaching Cleanser

Efficacy75/100IrritancyHigh
See all ingredients

Works for

Cleansing
Stearic acid, Glyceryl stearate + 3 more
Can be harsh
What the product description says
“Skin Bleaching Cleanser”
From product name

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin.

Keep in mind that cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.

Stearic acidEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient~3.7–5.5%
Glyceryl stearateEffect: HighAn emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together~2.6–3.9%
Xanthan gumEffect: HighUsed to create a thicker product consistency~0.15–0.65%
Ceteareth-20Effect: HighHelps oil and water mix together. Has some emollient properties~0.1–0.4%
Cetearyl alcoholEffect: HighA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture~0.1–0.35%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
3 strong irritants: Alcohol, Citrus aurantifolia oil + 1 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 9 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
AlcoholCan be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial propertiesHigh~2–3.1%est.
Kojic acidHelps to reduce hyperpigmentation and neutralize free radicals. Can be irritatingHigh~0.85–1.3%est.
Citrus aurantifolia oil—High~0.5–1.15%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.01–0.05%est.
Lactic acidAn exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)Medium~1.4–2.1%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~1.1–1.6%est.
EdtaHelp to stabilize the product formulationMedium~0.2–0.8%est.
Sodium metabisulfiteA preservativeMedium~0.1–0.2%est.
Ceteareth-20Helps oil and water mix together. Has some emollient propertiesMedium~0.1–0.4%est.
Comedogenic
2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
2 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
Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture2/5~0.1–0.35%est.
Ceteareth-20Helps oil and water mix together. Has some emollient properties2/5~0.1–0.4%est.
Alternatives
Cheaper, or higher on efficacy
Prebiotic Soothing Cleansing Cream
Gallinée Prebiotic Soothing Cleansing Cream
Higher efficacy · 100/10050% match
View all alternatives

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Vegetable oil~6.9–10.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

An oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Vegetable oil
Stearic acid~3.7–5.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient

More about Stearic acid
Glyceryl stearate~2.6–3.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together

More about Glyceryl stearate
Alcohol~2–3.1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Antibacterial

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 Alcohol
Betaine~1.6–2.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture

More about Betaine
Lactic acid~1.4–2.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Evens skin toneMoisturizingExfoliationAnti-aging

An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)

More about Lactic acid
Corn
Not recognized
Mel~1.3–2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and attract water to it

More about Mel
Citric acid~1.1–1.6%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

More about Citric acid
Kojic acid~0.85–1.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-oxidationEvens skin tone

Helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and neutralize free radicals. Can be irritating

More about Kojic acid
Mulberry
Not recognized
Citrus aurantifolia oil~0.5–1.15%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
More about Citrus aurantifolia oil
Unspecified form of vitamin c~0.45–1.05%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Unspecified form of vitamin c
Glycerin~0.35–0.85%
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
Edta~0.2–0.8%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Help to stabilize the product formulation

More about Edta
Sodium metabisulfite~0.1–0.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Sodium metabisulfite
Xanthan gum~0.15–0.65%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum
Microcrystalline cellulose~0.15–0.65%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Exfoliation
More about Microcrystalline cellulose
Methylparaben~0.15–0.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative

More about Methylparaben
Propylparaben~0.05–0.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative

More about Propylparaben
Simethicone~0.1–0.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A type of silicone that helps to create nice product texture and is used as an anti-foaming agent

More about Simethicone
Cetearyl alcohol~0.1–0.35%
Comedogenic 2/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture

More about Cetearyl alcohol
Ceteareth-20~0.1–0.4%
Comedogenic 2/5Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together. Has some emollient properties

More about Ceteareth-20
Essential oil
Not recognized
Parfum~0.01–0.05%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Ingredient list view

Water, Vegetable oil, Stearic acid, Glyceryl stearate, Alcohol, Betaine, Lactic acid, Unknown, Mel, Citric acid, Kojic acid, Unknown, Citrus aurantifolia oil, Unspecified form of vitamin c, Glycerin, Edta, Sodium metabisulfite, Xanthan gum, Microcrystalline cellulose, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Simethicone, Cetearyl alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Unknown, Parfum

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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
Clinicians ComplexSkin Bleaching CleanserYOUR PRODUCTGallinéePrebiotic Soothing Cleansing CreamCeraVeGel Moussant Anti-ImperfectionsOlivalAmino Gel
Match—50%49%48%
Price————
Shared key ingredients—4 of 94 of 94 of 9
Key difference—ArginineSalicylic AcidAllantoin
Irritancy High Medium Low Low
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 6 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Epidermal and dermal effects of topical lactic acidncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skinpdfs.semanticscholar.org
  3. 3
    TOPICAL TREATMENT OF MELASMAncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4
    Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation: a review of the epidemiology, clinical features, and treatment options in skin of color.europepmc.org
  5. 5
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. 6
    Final report on the safety assessment of sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, ammonium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, ammonium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite and potassium metabisulfitencbi.nlm.nih.gov
Clinicians Complex Skin Bleaching Cleanser
Clinicians ComplexSkin Bleaching Cleanser
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