Ultraceuticals Ultra Clear Foaming Cleanser
Works for
CleansingCocamidopropyl betaine, Decyl glucoside + 4 moreCleanses gently
“Ultra Clear Foaming Cleanser”
This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (cocamidopropyl betaine, decyl glucoside, peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate, polysorbate 20, sodium lauroyl lactylate) 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.
Even though this formulation is mild, the following cleansing agents could trigger an irritation or allergy for some people: cocamidopropyl betaine, decyl glucoside
Anti-blemishSalicylic acid, Mandelic acid + 2 moreWorks well
“Works to remove dirt, debris, makeup and excess surface sebum to help keep pores clear and leave skin feeling refreshed. Paraben free. Benzoyl Peroxide free.”
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.
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: mandelic acid
ExfoliationSide benefit · Salicylic acid, Mandelic acid + 2 moreWorks 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: mandelic acid, salicylic acid.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy17 flagged ingredients — 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.
Water~45–55%
Polysorbate 20~4.4–5.4%
Methylpropanediol~4–4.9%
Decyl glucoside~3.7–4.6%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating
More about Decyl glucosidePeg-120 methyl glucose dioleate~2.3–2.8%
Hamamelis virginiana water~1.9–2.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
More about Hamamelis virginiana waterLactic acid~1.6–2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
More about Lactic acidCocamidopropyl betaine~1.9–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen
More about Cocamidopropyl betaineSodium hydroxide~1.1–1.4%
Mandelic acid~0.95–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps shed the upper layer of dead cells from the surface of the skin revealing smoother, brighter skin. It can help to reduce hyperpigmentation. It has anti-bacterial properties, and might help to reduce blemishes, as well as fine lines and wrinkles. It is considered to be gentler than glycolic acid
More about Mandelic acidAllantoin~0.65–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
More about AllantoinSodium pca~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Naturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer
More about Sodium pcaNiacinamide~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
More about NiacinamideDisodium lauriminodipropionate tocopheryl phosphates~0.6–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A form of Vitamin E. In concentrations 1-3%, it can help neutralize free radicals in skin and support photodamage repair
More about Disodium lauriminodipropionate tocopheryl phosphatesCaprylyl glycol~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolSodium lauroyl lactylate~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil mix together
More about Sodium lauroyl lactylateDisodium edta~0.45–0.7%
Phenylpropanol~0.4–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps mask the smell of other ingredients and helps preserve the product formulation
More about PhenylpropanolSantalum spicata wood oil~0.35–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- High
Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- High
An essential oil that can be very irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties
More about Eucalyptus globulus leaf oilWater~0.3–0.6%
Polysorbate 20~0.35–0.6%
Methylpropanediol~0.3–0.55%
Decyl glucoside~0.4–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating
More about Decyl glucosidePeg-120 methyl glucose dioleate~0.3–0.6%
Hamamelis virginiana water~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
More about Hamamelis virginiana waterLactic acid~0.3–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
More about Lactic acidCocamidopropyl betaine~0.95–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen
More about Cocamidopropyl betaineSodium hydroxide~0.3–0.55%
Mandelic acid~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps shed the upper layer of dead cells from the surface of the skin revealing smoother, brighter skin. It can help to reduce hyperpigmentation. It has anti-bacterial properties, and might help to reduce blemishes, as well as fine lines and wrinkles. It is considered to be gentler than glycolic acid
More about Mandelic acidSalicylic acid0.5%
- 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 acidAllantoin~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
More about AllantoinSodium pca~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Naturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer
More about Sodium pcaNiacinamide~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
More about NiacinamideDisodium lauriminodipropionate tocopheryl phosphates~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A form of Vitamin E. In concentrations 1-3%, it can help neutralize free radicals in skin and support photodamage repair
More about Disodium lauriminodipropionate tocopheryl phosphatesCaprylyl glycol~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolSodium lauroyl lactylate~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil mix together
More about Sodium lauroyl lactylateDisodium edta~0.25–0.45%
Phenylpropanol~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps mask the smell of other ingredients and helps preserve the product formulation
More about PhenylpropanolSantalum spicata wood oil~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
An essential oil that can be very irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties
More about Eucalyptus globulus leaf oilEugenia caryophyllus bud oil~0.15–0.25%
Phenoxyethanol~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolSodium chloride~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
More about Sodium chlorideDehydroacetic acid~0.1–0.25%
Sodium benzoate~0.15–0.25%
Benzoic acid~0.1–0.2%
Eugenol~0.05–0.1%
Ingredient list view
Water, Polysorbate 20, Methylpropanediol, Decyl glucoside, Peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate, Hamamelis virginiana water, Lactic acid, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Sodium hydroxide, Mandelic acid, Allantoin, Sodium pca, Niacinamide, Disodium lauriminodipropionate tocopheryl phosphates, Caprylyl glycol, Sodium lauroyl lactylate, Disodium edta, Phenylpropanol, Santalum spicata wood oil, Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, Unknown, Water, Polysorbate 20, Methylpropanediol, Decyl glucoside, Peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate, Hamamelis virginiana water, Lactic acid, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Sodium hydroxide, Mandelic acid, Salicylic acid, Allantoin, Sodium pca, Niacinamide, Disodium lauriminodipropionate tocopheryl phosphates, Caprylyl glycol, Sodium lauroyl lactylate, Disodium edta, Phenylpropanol, Santalum spicata wood oil, Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, Eugenia caryophyllus bud oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium chloride, Dehydroacetic acid, Sodium benzoate, Benzoic acid, Eugenol
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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.
| UltraceuticalsUltra Clear Foaming CleanserYOUR PRODUCT | CeraVeGel Moussant Anti-Imperfections | Face factsCeramide Blemish Foaming Cleanser | Merci HandyFacial Cleansing Gel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 80% | 75% | 73% |
| Price | $63.00 | — | $7.82−$55.18 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 12 | 5 of 12 | 3 of 12 |
| Key difference | — | Glycolic Acid | Ceramide As | Glycerin |
| Irritancy | High | Low | Low | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: The Perfect V VV Beauty SheetsKmart 2 in 1 Deep Gel Cleanser and Makeup Eraser - Salicylic Acid & Vitamin B3
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 13 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Epidermal and dermal effects of topical lactic acidncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skinpdfs.semanticscholar.org
- 4
- 5
- 6
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