Comparison between Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3 vs. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution

Find out which product is better for your skin.

18 Ingredients 42

1
Water
1
Water
2
Alcohol Denatured
2
Glycolic Acid
3
Salicylic Acid
3
Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Water
4
Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel)
4
Centaurea Cyanus (Cornflower) Flower Water
5
Butylene Glycol
5
Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Water
6
Glycerin
6
Propanediol
7
Trehalose
7
Glycerin
8
Sodium Hyaluronate
8
Triethanolamine
-- Show others --
Uniqueness15 out of 18
83.3%
Uniqueness39 out of 42
92.9%

Positive Effects

Find out what good effects the product has

ECO Metrics

Find out how eco-friendly the components are
Vegan
No
No
Cruelty free
No
Yes
Reef friendly
Yes
Yes
Ozone layer safe
Yes
Yes
Organic score
natural
3 out of 18
17%
chemical
9 out of 18
50%
natural
14 out of 42
33%
chemical
22 out of 42
52%

Concerns

Pay attention to these components
-- Extra information --

Components by Skin Type

Find out what components are good or bad for your skin type
Dry skin
Positive: 3Negative: 1
Butylene Glycol#5Glycerin#6Sodium Hyaluronate#8Alcohol Denatured#2
Oily skin
Positive: 1Negative: 0
Salicylic Acid#3
Sensitive skin
Positive: 0Negative: 2
Salicylic Acid#3Citric Acid#9
Dry skin
Positive: 5Negative: 0
Glycerin#7Glycine#14Sodium PCA#25Sodium Lactate#261,2-Hexanediol#41
Oily skin
Positive: 1Negative: 0
Glycolic Acid#2
Sensitive skin
Positive: 0Negative: 2
Glycolic Acid#2Citric Acid#33

Detailed view

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3 vs. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Position 1
Both products have the same component on this position.

#1Water

Origin: natural
Role: Solvent
EWG Rating [ 1 ]

Water is a great solvent. It’s neutral and doesn’t provide any strong positive or negative effects. It just helps components to mix better and to transport active components.

Position 2

#2Alcohol Denatured

Origin: chemical
Role: Antifoaming agent, Antimicrobial agent, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity controlling agent
Antiseptic
Alcohols
EWG Rating [ 1 ]
Bad for dry skin
Bad for dry skin

Alcohol Denatured is a great bacteria killer. Manufacturers often put it inside products to increase their shelf life.

It’s one of the most harmful alcohols used in skincare. You should use it carefully, especially if you have dry skin. It removes oily barrier from the surface of your skin making it less protected and causing dryness. We advise you to pay attention to the position of this component in a formulation. If it stays below the 6th position it will hardly harm your skin. We also recommend testing the product first before application. If you feel a “cooling effect” it means the product contains a lot of alcohol and it's better to be careful with it.

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#2Glycolic Acid

Origin: natural
Role: Buffering agent, Exfoliant
Cleansing
Exfoliating
Anti-aging
Lightening
EWG Rating [ 1 ]
CIR Rating [ B ]
Good for oily skin
Good for oily skin

Glycolic Acid is the most researched AHA with proven efficiency and it’s a super powerful component. It’s a great exfoliator, meaning it helps to remove dead skin cells preventing bacterial growth, and make your skin look fresh and smooth. It helps to remove dark spots and areas, making skin tone even. But the most serious reason for using this component is that it helps to produce collagen, which is very important for keeping your skin healthy. This is what makes Glycolic Acid so special. Pay attention, that using any AHA makes your skin more UV sensitive. It’s very important to use good sunscreen after applying AHA.

It's an exfoliator, meaning it increases UV sensitivity of your skin. That's why it's very important to use sunscreen after it.
Position 3

#3Salicylic Acid

Origin: chemical
Role: Skin conditioning agent, Antiacne agent, Antidandruff agent, Exfoliant, Fragrance ingredient, Hair conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative
Cleansing
Acne fighting
Soothing
Antiseptic
EWG Rating [ 1 ]
CIR Rating [ B ]
Good for oily skin
Good for oily skin

Salicylic Acid is an amazing component for oily skin. It’s a famous BHA that chemically exfoliates dead cells, kills bacteria, and prevents acne. It works as a strong pores cleanser. AHAs are not effective for removing sebum from pores, while BHAs are leaders in this space. Salicylic Acid also helps to shrink pores, remove acne scars and make skin tone even. Pay attention: concentration matters! This ingredient is rather aggressive. It can lead to irritation in high concentrations. If your skin has never seen this component before test the product first.

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#3Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Water

Origin: No information
Role: Skin conditioning agent, Fragrance ingredient, Masking
EWG Rating [ 1 ]
Position 4

#4Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel)

Origin: No information
Role: No information
Antioxidants
EWG Rating [ 1 ]
-- versus --

#4Centaurea Cyanus (Cornflower) Flower Water

Origin: No information
Role: Skin conditioning agent
EWG Rating [ 1 ]
Position 5

#5Butylene Glycol

Origin: chemical
Role: Skin conditioning agent, Fragrance ingredient, Humectant, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity controlling agent
Moisturizing
Softening
Hair protection
Comedogenic rating [ 1 ]
EWG Rating [ 1 ]
CIR Rating [ A ]
Good for dry skin
Good for dry skin

Butylene Glycol is a very popular synthetic alcohol. It helps the product to absorb deeper and faster. It is also a solvent for other ingredients. As for the skin benefits, it helps to attract water and helps to make the skin softer.

Unlike many other “Glycols”, it is not harmful and that's why it is used in many products. It was approved by US FDA and US EPA for usage.

-- versus --

#5Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Water

Origin: No information
Role: Fragrance ingredient, Masking
EWG Rating [ 1 ]
Skin Signal
2023 - 2024

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