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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum versus Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader .

Published on March 10, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain BHA, exfoliants and niacinamide

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Facial Treatment American Brand United States
Facial Treatment American Brand United States

Facial Treatment

Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.

Facial Treatment

Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.

Price

Shop

Buy Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum

Starts at $13.03
Shop

Buy AGE Bright Spot Fader

Starts at $34.99

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

BHA
PHA
Exfoliators
Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin (2)
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
Irritating
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

AHA
BHA
Vitamin E
Exfoliators (2)
Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Good For Oily Skin (2)
Redness Reducing
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores (3)
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (3)
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (5)

Concerns

Drying (3)
Irritating (4)
Rosacea (4)
Eczema (4)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.

Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.

In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

Learn more about Salicylic Acid

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 7.

2
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 1.

3
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 27.

4
What it does: Solvent
Community Rating: Liked

Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.

It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 6.

5
What it does: Buffering
Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 39.

6
What it does: Smoothing
Community Rating: Loved

Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.

It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.

Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.

The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.

Learn more about Niacinamide

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.

Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 5.

7
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Sclerotium Gum is a polysaccharide gum made by the fungus, Sclerotium rolfssii. It is similar to xanthan gum.

In cosmetics, Sclerotium Gum is used to thicken the texture and to help stabilize other ingredients.

As an emulsifier, Sclerotium Gum helps prevent ingredients from separating, such as water and oil.

Learn more about Sclerotium Gum

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.

Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 21.

8
What it does:

We don't have a description for Pullulan.

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 25.

9
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.

Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 30.

10
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.

Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 40.

11
What it does: Abrasive, Absorbent
Community Rating: Disliked

Silica is a mineral naturally found in our skin. It helps to thicken and smooth the texture of a product. It also acts as an agent for other ingredients by increasing the absorption of other ingredients into the skin.

Silica is often used for absorption and can help reduce shine when products are applied. Silica occurs in naturally in materials like clay and sandstone, and it can also be produced synthetically.

Silica is present naturally within the skin during collagen production and when reducing inflammation.

Learn more about Silica

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.

Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 34.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

56% are loved or liked
6% have mixed ratings
28% are disliked or very disliked
11% have no rating yet
22% are loved or liked
16% have mixed ratings
40% are disliked or very disliked
22% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum 18 ingredients

Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader 45 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
BiaB's avatar

BiaB

8 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

Effective when used right.
When you use this, it needs to be on freshly washed skin. After toner. You need to put some product on the starting...

Effective when used right.
When you use this, it needs to be on freshly washed skin. After toner. You need to put some product on the starting pimple or the one that’s present and work the other products around it. It needs some work and concentration but it’s worth it.

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