
James Read Gradual Tan - Sleep Mask Face Retinol
Description
- cruelty-free tanning that contains aha, hyaluronic acid, retinoid, vitamin c and vitamin e.
- it doesn't contain any common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens or sulfates.
- it does contain harsh alcohols and silicones.
- it is likely to be good for anti aging, brightening skin, reducing pores, dark spots and better texture.
- it is reef safe.
- it is not fungal acne (malassezia) safe.
This product was submitted by Maritake_N on February 26, 2022
Directions
- Using your fingers, apply a thin layer to a clean, dry face and neck.
- Apply to the hairline and décolleté.
- Wash hands after use and avoid contact with water for 6-8 hours, then rinse.
- Begin using only once or twice a week. Gradually...
Show all directions
increase when skin tolerates the active ingredients and no irritation occurs.
- Daily use of an SPF sunscreen is necessary after using this product.
Ingredient List (37)
Water • Dihydroxyacetone • Glycerin • Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract • Dimethicone • Polyacrylamide • Cyclopentasiloxane • C13-14 Isoparaffin • Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Cyclohexasiloxane • Panthenol • Isohexadecane • Xanthan Gum • Sodium Metabisulfite • Citric Acid • Laureth-7 • Polysorbate 80 • Poloxamer 235 • Tocopheryl Acetate • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Sorbitan Oleate • Retinol • Polysorbate 20 • Sodium Ascorbate • Epigallocatechin Gallate • Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract • Rosa Centifolia Bud Extract • BHT • Sodium Hyaluronate • Disodium EDTA • BHA • Combretum Farinosum Flower Nectar • Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract • Alcohol • Sodium Benzoate • Phenoxyethanol • Potassium Sorbate
Jump to Ingredients ExplainedProduct Info

Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:

Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:

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 😥

Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Community Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the 37 ingredients in this product ✨
Ingredient Details
Here's a breakdown of the benefits, notable ingredients, and drawbacks that we found with James Read's Gradual Tan - Sleep Mask Face Retinol.
Benefits (10)










Notable Ingredients (5)





Concerns (4)




James Read Gradual Tan - Sleep Mask Face Retinol Ingredients Explained
This product contains 37 ingredients. Click on any ingredient to learn more about it
Water is the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. It often makes up the largest portion of a product, and is thus typically found at (or near) the top of an ingredients list.
In most cases, the purpose of water within an ingredient list is to act as a solvent - this means it's there to help dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
Water also happens to be necessary for all life on Earth. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin and helps moisturize and protect your skin. A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
Glycerin is a humectant, helping the skin retain moisture by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin. Having moisturized skin helps improve the skin barrier. Your skin barrier protects against skin 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, animal sources include tallow. It is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English while British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
We don't have a description for Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract.

Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.
Polyacrylamide is a synthetic polymer. It is used to stabilize products and bind ingredients. When hydrated, Polyacrylamide forms a soft gel.
Polyacrylamide is low-toxicity. If source properly, it is deemed safe to use in cosmetics.
It should be noted the precursor to Polyacrylamide is acrylamide. Acrylamide is a carcinogen. Most reputable sources of Polyacrylamide will screen for residual acrylamide to make sure the count is in a safe range. Acrylamide is not able to be absorbed through the skin.
We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.

Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone used to improve texture and trap moisture. An easier name for this is D5.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
D5 is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.


C13-14 Isoparaffin is created from petroleum-based mineral oils. It is an emollient and helps thicken a product.
As an emollient, it helps keep the skin soft and smooth by creating a barrier on top. This barrier traps moisture in, keeping the skin hydrated.
C13-14 Isoparaffin may not be fungal-acne safe.
We don't have a description for Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer.

Cyclohexasiloxane is a type of silicone. It is an emollient and solvent.
Cyclohexasiloxane is used to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. When applied to the skin, Cyclohexasiloxane evaporates and leaves behind a silky feel.
As an emollient, it can help the skin feel soft and hydrated. It is also used to reduce frizz in hair products.

Panthenol (also referred to as pro-vitamin B5) is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin.
Panthenol is a humectant, meaning that it helps the skin attract and retain moisture. It's also known to have anti-inflammatory abilities. This means that it's great for sensitive, irritation-prone skin.
Isohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
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.


Sodium Metabisulfite is an antioxidant and is a preservative.




Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!). A small amount is used in formulas to adjust the pH of products. In higher concentrations, it can exfoliate skin.
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:
Laureth-7 is created by the ethoxylation of lauryl alcohol using ethylene oxide. Lauryl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with hydrating properties.
Laureth-7 is an emulsifier and cleansing ingredient. As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps cleanse the skin by gathering dirt, oil, and pollutants to be rinsed away.

Polysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to keep ingredients together, and prevent oils and waters from separating.
It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan and oleic acid. This ingredient can be found in cosmetics, foods, and medicine. It is water-soluble.
Polysorbate 80 may not be fungal acne safe.



Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.


Sorbitan Oleate isn't fungal acne safe. It can be bad for acne prone skin.











Retinol, AKA Vitamin A. Unlike AHA's, retinol does not remove the top layer of old and dead skin cells. Instead, it travels directly to the middle layer and gets to work. It neutralizes free radicals, boosting elastin and collagen production. This in turn makes retinol effective in removing fine lines, wrinkles, and enlarged pores.
Retinol is sensitive to breakdown when exposed to sun and air. It will also make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so it is recommended to wear SPF after applying retinol.
It is not recommended to use any retinols while pregnant. Retinol may cause irritation in some people.
Read about Tretinoin

Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 is not fungal acne safe.






Sodium Ascorbate is a form of Vitamin C and is an antioxidant. It can help to reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, and reduce the visibility of dark spots.

Epigallocatechin Gallate is an antioxidant.
We don't have a description for Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract.
We don't have a description for Rosa Centifolia Bud Extract.

BHT is a synthetic antioxidant. As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
BHT also helps stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Many products are sensitive to air and light. BHT prevents them from breaking down when exposed.

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form.
Sodium Hyaluronate is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. It plays a role in hydrating and soothing skin.
It is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints; it is commonly derived from sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives. It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and are found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

This BHA stands for butylated hydroxyanisole. If you are looking for the beta-hydroxy acid, click here.
In cosmetics, butylated hydroxyanisole is used as a perservative. It also has antioxidant properties. The concentrations usually used in skincare are low and do not penetrate through skin.
However, it is considered a carcinogen when ingested.
Butylated Hydroxyanisole is a synthetic and waxy petrochemical. It is used as a preservative in foods and cosmetics.
We don't have a description for Combretum Farinosum Flower Nectar.
We don't have a description for Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract.


Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is usually an astringent alcohol.
These alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
- Ethyl Alcohol or ethanol
- Methanol
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- SD Alcohol
- Benzyl Alcohol
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Fatty alcohols come from plant oils such as coconut oil. These can help hydrate the skin and are non-irritating. Some fatty alcohols include cetyl and stearyl alcohol.

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative used in both cosmetic and food products.
Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Benzoic acid is found naturally in common foods such as cinnamon, tomatoes, berries, apples, honey, mushrooms, and more.

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
Potassium sorbate is potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
Potassium sorbate is often used with stronger preservatives.