iS CLINICAL
Active Serum
Active Serum
iS CLINICAL
active-serum
Serum
9643584979237
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WHAT IS IT?
Serum with 11 ingredients
FEATURES
A lightweight serum, improves the appearance of uneven skin tone, wrinkles, fine lines and acne. Smooths and softens the skin
BEST FOR
All skin types
CHECKS
Essential oil-free
Who Is It For?
All Ages Both Men And Women (assumed)What Does It Help With?
Budget
PremiumHow To Use
Which routine should it be used in?
Instructions:
Key Information
What iS CLINICAL Says
Product Description:
Our most popular product, this fast-acting, long-term, results-oriented formula decreases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, visibly evens skin tone, and is excellent for blemish-prone skin. Touted by physicians as "remarkable" and "phenomenal," Active Serum usually produces results within a couple of days. Potent activity will be noted upon application, as evidenced by a cooling tingling sensation. Excellent for all skin types and all ages, this powerful botanical serum leaves the skin moist and smooth.
About the Brand:
Ingredients Overview
Ingredients List
Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract [Extrait de canne ร sucre], Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Triethanolamine, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Arbutin, Polyporus Umbellatus (Mushroom) Extract, Menthol, Phenoxyethanol.
Key Ingredients
Sugarcane Extract, Bilberry Fruit/Leaf Extract, White Willow Bark Extract, Mushroom Extract
Ingredients Details
Alcohol Denat.
Common Name(s): Alcohol denat.,denatured ethanol,solvent antimicrobial astringent
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Alcohol denat. dissolves oil-soluble and water-soluble cosmetic actives, provides rapid antimicrobial activity at concentrations above 60โ70% by denaturing microbial proteins, delivers a refreshing cooling sensation through evaporative cooling on skin, and temporarily enhances the penetration of topical actives by transiently disrupting the stratum corneum lipid bilayer organisation.
Why It's Used: Formulators choose alcohol denat. for its irreplaceable combination of solvent power, antimicrobial activity, and penetration-enhancing properties. no other cosmetic solvent simultaneously provides the cooling sensory experience of alcohol (from evaporative cooling at the skin surface), the immediate antimicrobial activity required for sanitisers (from protein denaturation above 60%), and the transient sc lipid disruption that improves active ingredient delivery (essential in actives-rich toners and essences). for denatured alcohol specifically, denaturing agents (typically 5% isopropanol or bitrex) prevent consumption without affecting cosmetic function.
How It Works: Alcohol denat. works through multiple mechanisms depending on concentration: (1) solvent action โ alcohol's hydroxyl group provides hydrogen bonding with water while the short alkyl chain provides interaction with organic solutes, enabling dissolution of both hydrophilic and moderately lipophilic cosmetic actives in a single solvent; (2) antimicrobial โ above 60% concentration, ethanol denatures microbial proteins by disrupting non-covalent bonds maintaining protein secondary and tertiary structure โ the alcohol molecules intercalate between protein chains, disrupting the hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds that maintain enzyme active site geometry. this non-specific protein denaturation is immediately bactericidal and virucidal with no resistance mechanism possible; (3) sc penetration enhancement โ at lower concentrations (5โ30%), ethanol transiently fluidises the sc lipid bilayer by intercalating between the ordered lipid lamellae, disrupting the crystal packing and increasing lipid bilayer fluidity. this transient fluidisation increases the diffusion coefficient of co-applied actives through the sc for up to 30 minutes post-application; (4) astringency โ alcohol's protein precipitating action at the skin surface contracts superficial proteins, temporarily tightening pores and reducing oiliness.
Typically Found In: Toners,hand sanitisers,actives serums
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ cosmetic active
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 5%โ95%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Ethanol concentration-dependent antimicrobial efficacy: below 40% โ minimal bactericidal effect (insufficient protein denaturation); 40โ60% โ bacteriostatic, not bactericidal; 60โ70% โ peak bactericidal efficacy against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses and vegetative bacteria (optimal water content maintains protein hydration required for denaturation to proceed); 80โ90% โ remains effective but slightly reduced from decreased water activity; 95โ100% โ reduced efficacy (insufficient water for protein denaturation). the 70% 'sweet spot' for sanitisers reflects this concentration-efficacy peak, not a formulation convenience.
Last Verified: Cosing database,alcohol denat. ethanol solvent antimicrobial review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Arbutin
Common Name(s): Arbutin,cosmetic active,functional ingredient
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Delivers characteristic cosmetic function โ skin conditioning, protection, preservation, or active biological benefit โ at recommended use concentration.
Why It's Used: Selected for its functional contribution and formulation compatibility โ supported by cosmetic science literature and regulatory safety assessment.
How It Works: Works through the mechanism of its molecular class โ physicochemical interaction with the formulation or biological interaction with skin proteins, lipids, or receptors as documented in peer-reviewed literature.
Typically Found In: Skin care formulations
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ cosmetic active
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ10%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Arbutin delivers documented functional benefit with an established safety profile within the cosmetic regulatory framework (cosing eu, cir usa).
Last Verified: Cosing database,arbutin technical literature
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Butylene Glycol
Common Name(s): 1,3-butanediol,bg,1,3-butylene glycol
CAS Number: 107-88-0
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides humectant hydration and active ingredient solubilization with excellent skin feel.
Why It's Used: Preferred glycol humectant in premium and k-beauty formulations for superior skin feel vs propylene glycol with equivalent functionality.
How It Works: Two hydroxyl groups at 1,3-positions provide water binding and solvent activity. better tolerated than propylene glycol with minimal sensitization risk. 4-carbon backbone provides slightly greater hydrophobic character enabling dissolution of less polar actives vs pg.
Typically Found In: Toners,essences,serums,k-beauty formulas
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ glycol humectant
Secondary Functions: Tewl reduction,skin plumping
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1%โ10%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ synthetic
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Synthetic or naturally derived. excellent aqueous solubility.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; suitable for all skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Ceramides,emollients,occlusives,glycerin,hyaluronic acid
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
K-beauty's preference for butylene glycol over propylene glycol is driven by two factors: bg's superior skin feel (less tacky than pg's higher viscosity) and its lower sensitization potential (1,3-bg has better spatial distribution of hydroxyl groups that reduces protein interaction vs pg's 1,2-position oh groups).
Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Glycerin
Common Name(s): Glycerol,glycerine,1,2,3-propanetriol
CAS Number: 56-81-5
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Glycerin pulls water from the environment and deeper skin layers into the outer skin layer (epidermis), boosting moisture levels and keeping skin soft, smooth, and plump.
Why It's Used: It is used in virtually every moisturizer, serum, and cleanser because it is highly effective at hydrating skin, is well-tolerated by all skin types, and enhances the texture and spreadability of formulations.
How It Works: As a humectant, glycerin forms hydrogen bonds with water molecules, trapping them in the skin. it also reinforces the skin barrier by integrating into lipid structures between skin cells.
Typically Found In: Moisturizers,serums,cleansers,toners,sheet masks,sunscreens,body lotions,shampoos,conditioners
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Humectant
Secondary Functions: Skin barrier support,emollient,solvent
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1%โ30% (typical: 3โ10%)
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ plant-derived (coconut, soy, palm) or synthetic
Halal Status: Yes โ when plant-derived or synthetic; verify source with supplier
Source Notes: Derived from plant oils via hydrolysis or saponification; synthetic versions also available. palm-derived glycerin carries sustainability concerns.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low; non-irritating at all standard concentrations
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Extremely rare allergic reactions; generally safe for all skin types including sensitive and baby skin
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Widely recognized as safe. ewg hazard score: 1. no significant concerns for irritation, sensitization, or toxicity at typical concentrations (up to 50%).
Works Well With: Hyaluronic acid,ceramides,niacinamide,panthenol,urea,peptides,retinol,ahas/bhas
Avoid Combining With: No known incompatibilities at standard concentrations
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Glycerin is an endogenous skin component found naturally in the stratum corneum. aquaporin-3 channels in keratinocytes facilitate glycerin transport, making it integral to natural skin hydration pathways.
Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment,ewg skin deep,inci decoder
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12