Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Acne Drying Lotion
Works for
Anti-blemishSalicylic acidWorks well
“Clear Days Ahead Acne Drying Lotion”
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.
ExfoliationSide benefit · Salicylic acidWorks well
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.
MoisturizingSide benefit · Panthenol, PantolactoneWorks well
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": 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
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Alcohol denat., Hamamelis virginiana water + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Alcohol denat.~24–35%
- Irritation risk
- High
Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products
More about Alcohol denat.Water~12–18%
Hamamelis virginiana water~4.9–7.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
More about Hamamelis virginiana waterPanthenol~3.2–4.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
More about PanthenolDisodium stearoyl glutamate~2.6–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together and workd as a cleanser
More about Disodium stearoyl glutamateAlcohol~1.7–2.5%
- 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 AlcoholTriethoxycaprylylsilane~1.3–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps oil and water mix well together. Helps to disperse other ingredients, e.g. pigments, evenly in a formulation
More about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneAluminum hydroxide~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is used to add opaque (non-transparent) appearance to formulations. Can be used to coat other ingredients for even dispersion. This is a different ingredient compared to the ones used in antipersperants (aluminium chloride and aluminium chlorohydrate)
More about Aluminum hydroxidePantolactone~1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about PantolactoneSalicylic acid~0.55–1.25%
- Irritation risk
- High
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 acidTitanium dioxide~0.85–1.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin
More about Titanium dioxideCi 77891~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Chromium hydroxide green~0.15–0.7%
Ci 77289~0.15–0.6%
Zinc oxide~0.15–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A broad spectrum sunblock (protects from both UVA and UVB rays). Is suitable for most sensitive skins. In small concentrations, can be used as a colorant
More about Zinc oxideCi 77947~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Iron oxides~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An umbrella term for the following three colorants: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499. They might be able to offer some protection against visible light, but the degree of the protection is not clear
More about Iron oxidesIngredient list view
Alcohol denat., Water, Hamamelis virginiana water, Panthenol, Disodium stearoyl glutamate, Alcohol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum hydroxide, Pantolactone, Salicylic acid, Titanium dioxide, Ci 77891, Chromium hydroxide green, Ci 77289, Zinc oxide, Ci 77947, Iron oxides
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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.
| PhilosophyClear Days Ahead Acne Drying LotionYOUR PRODUCT | Medipharma CosmeticsHaut in Balance Pigment/Age Spot Reducing Treatment Cream | Clean & ClearDual action | BABORSeaCreation The Cream | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 82% | 82% | 81% |
| Price | $24.00 | $27.50+$3.50 | $3.07−$20.93 | $600.00+$576.00 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 2 of 4 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 4 |
| Key difference | — | Lactic Acid | Dimethicone | Lactic Acid |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | High |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | — | Contains drying alcohol |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: HydroPeptide AquaBoost Oil Free Face MoisturizerFormula 10.0.6 Feel So Soft Oil Free Moisturizer
Product summary
Based on the ingredient list, "Philosophy - Clear Days Ahead Acne Drying Lotion" can work well for skin moisturization.
Ingredient callouts
- Salicylic acid (0.55% - 1.25%) in this product will have an exfoliating effect and help smooth the skin. We, however, do not recommend using a moisturizer with Salicylic Acid daily to avoid over-exfoliating.
- Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) at about 3.20% - 4.90% concentration. In this concentration, Panthenol works effectively to improve the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.
Irritation risk
This formulation includes some common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide a benefit for the 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.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 13 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulationspdfs.semanticscholar.org
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6Beta Hydroxy Acidsfda.gov
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