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
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
Ingredient Info
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum 18 ingredients
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader 45 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum 18 ingredients
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader 45 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum 18 ingredients
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader 45 ingredients
Water • Butylene Glycol • Hamamelis Virginiana Water • Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate • Niacinamide • Propanediol • Salicylic Acid • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Caprylyl Methicone • Glycereth-26 • Saccharide Isomerate • Hexylresorcinol • Salvia Sclarea Oil • Malic Acid • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract • Salvia Sclarea Extract • Lavandula Angustifolia Oil • Citrus Limon Peel Oil • Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil • Lavandula Hybrida Oil • Sclerotium Gum • Sodium Carrageenan • Thymol • Terpineol • Pullulan • Lecithin • Glycerin • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Peg-12 Dimethicone/Ppg-20 Crosspolymer • Xanthan Gum • Sodium Citrate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate • Silica • Tocopherol • Sea Salt • Potassium Sorbate • Sodium Benzoate • Sodium Hydroxide • Citric Acid • Benzoic Acid • Aminomethyl Propanol • Limonene • Linalool • Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AcidCetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 7.
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 WaterCetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 GlycerinCetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 27.
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 PropanediolCetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 6.
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 HydroxideCetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 39.
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 NiacinamideCetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 5.
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 GumCetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 21.
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.
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 GumCetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 30.
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 AcidCetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader contains this as ingredient number 40.
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 SilicaCetaphil 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.
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum 18 ingredients
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader 45 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum 18 ingredients
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader 45 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum 18 ingredients
Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader 45 ingredients
BiaB
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.
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 34 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Acne Serum.
See 34 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 8 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Dermalogica AGE Bright Spot Fader.
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