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Facetheory VITAMIN C CLEANSER C1
Facetheory

Facetheory VITAMIN C CLEANSER C1

Efficacy100/100IrritancyHigh
See all ingredients

Works for

Cleansing
Cetyl alcohol, Glyceryl stearate se + 3 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“VITAMIN C CLEANSER C1”
Source: Facetheory UK

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (cetyl alcohol, glyceryl caprylate, glyceryl stearate se, stearic acid, 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.

Cetyl alcoholEffect: HighA non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together~5.4–8.1%
Glyceryl stearate seEffect: HighUsed to stabilize the product formulations and works as an emollient~2–3%
Stearic acidEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient~1.5–2.3%
Xanthan gumEffect: HighUsed to create a thicker product consistency~0.5–1.2%
Glyceryl caprylateEffect: HighAn emollient that can also help water and oil mix together, as well as prevent bacteria growth in products~0.3–0.7%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
4 strong irritants: Sodium anisate, Citrus nobilis peel oil + 2 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 8 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Sodium anisateUsed as a fragranceHigh~0.35–0.75%est.
Citrus nobilis peel oilA plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that, especially when exposed to air, can cause allergic reactions and irritate the skinHigh~0.1–0.5%est.
LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh0.2045%
LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh0.0025%
Prunus armeniaca kernel oilAn emollient that helps soften the skinMedium~3.9–5.9%est.
Sodium ascorbyl phosphateA stable derivative of vitamin C. It is oil-soluble which means it is more likely to penetrate the skin compared to the pure form of vitamin C (which is water-soluble), but it is less bio-available and is way less effective in stimulating collagen and reducing wrinkles compared to the pure form of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and its other derivatives (for example, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). At the same time, this vitamin C derivative has been shown in studies to be effective in reducing acne, blemishes and clogged pores. It is less irritating then the pure form of vitamin CMedium~1–1.5%est.
Persea gratissima oilAn emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier functionMedium~0.95–1.4%est.
Sodium levulinateA preservativeMedium~0.45–1.05%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
Glyceryl stearate seUsed to stabilize the product formulations and works as an emollient2/5~2–3%est.

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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
Cetyl alcohol~5.4–8.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together

More about Cetyl alcohol
Prunus armeniaca kernel oil~3.9–5.9%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidation

An emollient that helps soften the skin

More about Prunus armeniaca kernel oil
Glycerin~2.7–4.1%
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
Glyceryl stearate se~2–3%
Comedogenic 2/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

Used to stabilize the product formulations and works as an emollient

More about Glyceryl stearate se
Prunus amygdalus dulcis seed~1.6–2.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Prunus amygdalus dulcis seed
Stearic acid~1.5–2.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient

More about Stearic acid
Sodium ascorbyl phosphate~1–1.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-blemishAnti-oxidationAnti-aging

A stable derivative of vitamin C. It is oil-soluble which means it is more likely to penetrate the skin compared to the pure form of vitamin C (which is water-soluble), but it is less bio-available and is way less effective in stimulating collagen and reducing wrinkles compared to the pure form of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and its other derivatives (for example, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). At the same time, this vitamin C derivative has been shown in studies to be effective in reducing acne, blemishes and clogged pores. It is less irritating then the pure form of vitamin C

More about Sodium ascorbyl phosphate
Persea gratissima oil~0.95–1.4%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function

More about Persea gratissima oil
Xanthan gum~0.5–1.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum
Sodium levulinate~0.45–1.05%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Sodium levulinate
Sodium anisate~0.35–0.75%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Used as a fragrance

More about Sodium anisate
Glyceryl caprylate~0.3–0.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

An emollient that can also help water and oil mix together, as well as prevent bacteria growth in products

More about Glyceryl caprylate
Citrus nobilis peel oil~0.1–0.5%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that, especially when exposed to air, can cause allergic reactions and irritate the skin

More about Citrus nobilis peel oil
Limonene0.2045%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

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

More about Limonene
Linalool0.0025%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Linalool
Ingredient list view

Water, Cetyl alcohol, Prunus armeniaca kernel oil, Glycerin, Glyceryl stearate se, Prunus amygdalus dulcis seed, Stearic acid, Sodium ascorbyl phosphate, Persea gratissima oil, Xanthan gum, Sodium levulinate, Sodium anisate, Glyceryl caprylate, Citrus nobilis peel oil, Limonene, Linalool

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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
FacetheoryVITAMIN C CLEANSER C1YOUR PRODUCTMilaniGlow Gel CleanserBYNACHTClean Sheets Cleansing GelSimpleMicellar Water Limited Edition Little Mix
Match—47%47%47%
Price—$14.70—$8.02
Shared key ingredients—1 of 101 of 101 of 10
Key difference—Saccharomyces/Zinc FermentLactic AcidNiacinamide
Irritancy High Medium Medium Medium
Drying alcohol————
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 11 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Sodium ascorbyl phosphate shows in vitro and in vivo efficacy in the prevention and treatment of acne vulgarisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Sodium ascorbyl phosphate in topical microemulsionssciencedirect.com
  4. 4
    Final report of the safety assessment of L-Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate, and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate as used in cosmeticseuropepmc.org
  5. 5
    Regulation of collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts by the sodium and magnesium salts of ascorbyl-2-phosphatekarger.com
  6. 6
    Comparison of clinical efficacies of sodium ascorbyl phosphate, retinol and their combination in acne treatmentonlinelibrary.wiley.com
Facetheory VITAMIN C CLEANSER C1
FacetheoryVITAMIN C CLEANSER C1
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