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ULTA Gradual Tanning Glow Pads
ULTA

ULTA Gradual Tanning Glow Pads

Efficacy37/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing
Peg/ppg/polybutylene glycol-8/5/3 glycerin, Glycerin + 2 more
Works
What the product description says
“Can help maintain skins moisture.”
Source: Ulta

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, peg/ppg/polybutylene glycol-8/5/3 glycerin.

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).

Peg/ppg/polybutylene glycol-8/5/3 glycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: MediumHelps create a nice product texture and attract water to the upper layer of the skin~2.8–4.2%
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~0.35–0.8%
TocopherolEffect: Low, below effective dosePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.05–0.25%
Aleurites moluccanus seed oilUnder-dosedHelps soften the upper layer of the skin~0.1–0.35%
Anti-aging
Tocopherol
Not delivered
What the product description says
“antioxidant properties have been known to protect skin from damage and prevent fine lines and wrinkles.”
Source: Ulta

Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.

TocopherolEffect: Low, below effective dosePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.05–0.25%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
1 strong irritant: Parfum
Medium risk
We flagged 5 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
DihydroxyacetoneA self-tanning agentHigh~5.8–8.6%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.55–1.25%est.
EthoxydiglycolHelps to improve the product consistencyMedium~2–3%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~0.45–1%est.
Cereus grandiflorus flower extractA cactus extract that can help neutralize free radicals because it contains a chemical compound called betacyanins and flavonolglycosides. Can help make the surface of the skin dryer helping make pores look smaller for a very short period of time. The concentrations usually used in cosmetics are too small to have any effectMedium~0.05–0.25%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
Dihydroxyacetone~5.8–8.6%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Tanning

A self-tanning agent

More about Dihydroxyacetone
Isopentyldiol~4–5.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Helps dissolve other ingredients in a formulation

More about Isopentyldiol
Peg/ppg/polybutylene glycol-8/5/3 glycerin~2.8–4.2%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps create a nice product texture and attract water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Peg/ppg/polybutylene glycol-8/5/3 glycerin
Ethoxydiglycol~2–3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps to improve the product consistency

More about Ethoxydiglycol
Polysorbate 20~1.6–2.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Polysorbate 20
Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Erythrulose~0.95–1.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Erythrulose
Parfum~0.55–1.25%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.45–1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Glycerin~0.35–0.8%
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
Sodium hydroxide~0.15–0.55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to adjust the product's pH

More about Sodium hydroxide
Aleurites moluccanus seed oil~0.1–0.35%
Under-dosed
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Aleurites moluccanus seed oil
Cereus grandiflorus flower extract~0.05–0.25%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-oxidation

A cactus extract that can help neutralize free radicals because it contains a chemical compound called betacyanins and flavonolglycosides. Can help make the surface of the skin dryer helping make pores look smaller for a very short period of time. The concentrations usually used in cosmetics are too small to have any effect

More about Cereus grandiflorus flower extract
Tocopherol~0.05–0.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-oxidationAnti-inflammatoryAnti-agingMoisturizing

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol
Ingredient list view

Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Isopentyldiol, Peg/ppg/polybutylene glycol-8/5/3 glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Erythrulose, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Sodium hydroxide, Aleurites moluccanus seed oil, Cereus grandiflorus flower extract, Tocopherol

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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
ULTAGradual Tanning Glow PadsYOUR PRODUCTMiss SpaCactus Flower Sheet MaskFreckForeclay Cactus Clay MaskLululunPrecious Facial Sheet Mask, RED - 32 PCS
Match—33%33%31%
Price——$21.00—
Shared key ingredients—2 of 42 of 41 of 4
Key difference—Ceramide ApPrickly Pear Seed OilJojoba Esters
Irritancy Medium Low Low 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
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Vitamin E and Skin Healthlpi.oregonstate.edu
ULTA Gradual Tanning Glow Pads
ULTAGradual Tanning Glow Pads
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