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Dr. Barbara Sturm Clarifying Spot Treatment Untinted
Dr. Barbara Sturm

Dr. Barbara Sturm Clarifying Spot Treatment Untinted

Efficacy0/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Anti-blemish
No ingredient credited for this claim
Not delivered
What the product description says
“Specifically designed to fight blemishes and breakouts, this untinted anti-spot cream is potent SOS treatment when an unwanted vi-zit-or rears its head.”
Source: Cultbeauty

Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.

Moisturizing
Side benefit · Panthenol, Biosaccharide gum-1 + 2 more
Works well

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": biosaccharide gum-1, pantolactone.

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).

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol

PanthenolHero· HumectantEffect: HighHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function~2.6–3.9%
Biosaccharide gum-1Key active· HumectantEffect: HighHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and is claimed to provide a longer-lasting hydration because of its ability to create a water-binding film on the surface of the skin~0.1–0.4%
PantolactoneKey active· HumectantEffect: HighHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.05–0.15%
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~3.4–5.1%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
2 strong irritants: Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, Limonene
Medium 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~1–1.5%est.
LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.05–0.25%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~0.85–1.25%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.01–0.05%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged
Alternatives
Cheaper, or higher on efficacy
Anytime Anywhere 1% Salicylic Acid Blemish Touch Up Stick
REVOLUTION SKINCARE Anytime Anywhere 1% Salicylic Acid Blemish Touch Up Stick
CheaperHigher efficacy · 100/10063% match
$6.03
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
Propanediol~4.2–6.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

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

More about Propanediol
Butylene glycol~3.4–5.1%
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
Panthenol~2.6–3.9%
Hero · Moisturizing
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingReduces rednessReduces irritation

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function

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

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Sodium polyacrylate~1.6–2.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Mattifying

Used to create a gel-like product texture, as well as to stabilize emulsions

More about Sodium polyacrylate
Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil~1–1.5%
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~0.85–1.25%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Carbomer~0.5–1.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations

More about Carbomer
Maclura cochinchinensis leaf prenylflavonoids~0.4–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Maclura cochinchinensis leaf prenylflavonoids
Sodium hydroxide~0.15–0.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to adjust the product's pH

More about Sodium hydroxide
Biosaccharide gum-1~0.1–0.4%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and is claimed to provide a longer-lasting hydration because of its ability to create a water-binding film on the surface of the skin

More about Biosaccharide gum-1
Limonene~0.05–0.25%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

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

More about Limonene
Pantolactone~0.05–0.15%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Pantolactone
Citric acid~0.01–0.05%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

More about Citric acid
Ingredient list view

Water, Propanediol, Butylene glycol, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium polyacrylate, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Maclura cochinchinensis leaf prenylflavonoids, Sodium hydroxide, Biosaccharide gum-1, Limonene, Pantolactone, Citric acid

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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
Dr. Barbara SturmClarifying Spot Treatment UntintedYOUR PRODUCTREVOLUTION SKINCAREAnytime Anywhere 1% Salicylic Acid Blemish Touch Up Stick
Match—63%
Price—$6.03
Shared key ingredients—2 of 4
Key difference—Salicylic Acid
Irritancy Medium Low
Drying alcohol——
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 3 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulationspdfs.semanticscholar.org
  2. 2
    Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
  3. 3
    Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
Dr. Barbara Sturm Clarifying Spot Treatment Untinted
Dr. Barbara SturmClarifying Spot Treatment Untinted
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