Clinique Clarifying Lotion 4

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 4

Efficacy68/100IrritancyHigh

Works for

Exfoliation
Salicylic acid
Works well
What the product description says
“Gentle exfoliater can help create healthy-looking skin.”
Source: Clinique

This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: salicylic acid.

Salicylic acidKey activeEffect: HighUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)~1.6–2.3%
Anti-blemish
Salicylic acid
Works well
What the product description says
“The lotion also purify pores and block blemises from forming.”
Source: Bluemercury

This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.

Salicylic acidHeroEffect: HighUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)~1.6–2.3%
Moisturizing
Glycerin, Trehalose + 2 more
Works
What the product description says
“Preps skin for moisturiser, exfoliated skin is more receptive to hydration and treatment products.”
Source: Clinique

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, sodium hyaluronate.

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. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).

GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~1.4–2.1%
TrehaloseKey active· HumectantEffect: HighA sugar that attracts water to the upper layer of the skin~0.85–1.25%
Sodium hyaluronateKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin~0.45–1.1%
Butylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowUsed to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin~1.8–2.7%
Anti-aging
No ingredient credited for this claim
Not delivered
What the product description says
“Toner also decreases the appearance of fine, dry lines.”
Source: Sephora

Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
3 strong irritants: Alcohol denat., Hamamelis virginiana extract + 1 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 5 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Alcohol denat.Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve productsHigh~7.4–11.1%est.
Salicylic acidUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)High~1.6–2.3%est.
Hamamelis virginiana extractA plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritatingHigh~2.6–3.9%est.
Benzophenone-4Sulisobenzone. A UV filter. Is typically used to improve the product stability under exposure to UV light. It is effective against both UVA and UVB rays. It can be used is larger concentrations as a sun protection ingredient for the skin, but can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.25%est.
BhtA preservativeMedium~0.1–0.35%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged

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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
Alcohol denat.~7.4–11.1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products

More about Alcohol denat.
Salicylic acid~1.6–2.3%
Hero · Anti-blemishIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-blemishExfoliationAnti-inflammatoryAntibacterialEvens skin tone

Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)

More about Salicylic acid
Hamamelis virginiana extract~2.6–3.9%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-inflammatory

A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating

More about Hamamelis virginiana extract
Butylene glycol~1.8–2.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Butylene glycol
Glycerin~1.4–2.1%
Key active
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
Trehalose~0.85–1.25%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A sugar that attracts water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Trehalose
Sodium hyaluronate~0.45–1.1%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin

More about Sodium hyaluronate
Sodium hydroxide~0.3–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to adjust the product's pH

More about Sodium hydroxide
Disodium edta-copper~0.15–0.7%
Formula
Bht~0.1–0.35%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Bht
Phenoxyethanol~0.05–0.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Benzophenone-4~0.05–0.25%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Sun protection

Sulisobenzone. A UV filter. Is typically used to improve the product stability under exposure to UV light. It is effective against both UVA and UVB rays. It can be used is larger concentrations as a sun protection ingredient for the skin, but can be irritating

More about Benzophenone-4
Ci 61570~0.01–0.05%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Ci 61570
Ingredient list view

Water, Alcohol denat., Salicylic acid, Hamamelis virginiana extract, Butylene glycol, Glycerin, Trehalose, Sodium hyaluronate, Sodium hydroxide, Disodium edta-copper, Bht, Phenoxyethanol, Benzophenone-4, Ci 61570

Compare prices

Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.

Amazon USPrice as of 11/9 03:25 GMT
$23.00
Buy
Bluemercury
$37.00
Buy
Amazon USPrice as of 11/9 06:29 GMT
$37.00
Buy

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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
CliniqueClarifying Lotion 4YOUR PRODUCTPaula's choiceResist Anti-Aging Daily Pore-Refining Treatment BHA Full sizeFor pore tightening & skin rebalancingPolyhydroxy Acid 03% TonerBe MinimalistPolyhydroxy Acid 03% Toner
Match—97%94%94%
Price$37.00$50.80+$13.80$28.99−$8.01$8.01−$28.99
Shared key ingredients—4 of 54 of 54 of 5
Key difference—PanthenolNiacinamideNiacinamide
Irritancy High Low Medium Medium
Drying alcohol Contains drying alcohol ———
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More alternatives: APLB Salicylic Acid BHA Arbutin Facial CreamSkin proud Detox Daily AHA Exfoliating Tonic

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As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.