Amazon Basics Advanced Blemish Spot Treatment Versus La Roche-Posay Effaclar BPO Multi-Target Acne Treatment
This acne treatment is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid to clear breakouts and refine the look of pores.
This acne treatment is formulated around Benzoyl Peroxide to clear breakouts.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Water
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid 2%, Carbomer, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Lactic Acid, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Water, Xanthan Gum
Benzoyl Peroxide 5.5%
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzoyl Peroxide 5.5%, Water, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Metabisulfite, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Propanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
