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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser versus Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser For Sensitive Skin .

Published on March 30, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both face cleansers. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, silicones 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.

Face Cleanser American Brand United States
Face Cleanser American Brand United States

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Price

Shop

Buy Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser

Starts at $6.77
Shop

Buy Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser For Sensitive Skin

Starts at $2.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

AHA
BHA

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Good For Oily Skin
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (3)

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser For Sensitive Skin contains this as ingredient number 10.

2
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

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 Acid

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser For Sensitive Skin contains this as ingredient number 23.

3
What it does: Cleansing
Community Rating: Disliked

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine. Dimethylaminopropylamine is a diamine, an amine with two amino groups.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.

Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.

While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.

Learn more about Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 4.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser For Sensitive Skin contains this as ingredient number 3.

4
What it does: Cleansing, Foaming

We don't have a description for Disodium Lauroamphodiacetate.

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser For Sensitive Skin contains this as ingredient number 8.

5
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Glycerin

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 8.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser For Sensitive Skin contains this as ingredient number 2.

6
What it does: Emulsifying

Peg-16 Soy Sterol isn't fungal acne safe.

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 10.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser For Sensitive Skin contains this as ingredient number 6.

7
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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 may not be fungal acne safe.

Learn more about Polysorbate 20

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 12.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser For Sensitive Skin contains this as ingredient number 7.

8
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 16.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser For Sensitive Skin contains this as ingredient number 1.

9
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

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 Gum

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 17.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser For Sensitive Skin contains this as ingredient number 15.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

24% are loved or liked
6% have mixed ratings
53% are disliked or very disliked
18% have no rating yet
17% are loved or liked
17% have mixed ratings
42% are disliked or very disliked
25% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser 17 ingredients

Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser For Sensitive Skin 24 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 2 reviews
Formal_Property's Avatar'
Jul 9, 2021

Basic cleanser
I use this cleanser in my morning routine. It does the job without leaving my skin feeling tight. It’s a good basic cleanser but I don’t notice any specific benefit. Would repurchase if nothing else catches my eye.

Basic cleanser
I use this cleanser in my morning routine. It does the job without leaving my skin feeling tight. It’s a good basic cleanser but I don’t notice any specific benefit. Would repurchase if nothing else catches my eye.

bsabrina's Avatar'
Apr 22, 2023

just okay
the pump foams the cleanser as it comes out, so i feel like I have to use a lot of product. it kinda dissolves on the face. does remove makeup well and is non-irritating. very inexpensive product. better for those with no skin...

just okay
the pump foams the cleanser as it comes out, so i feel like I have to use a lot of product. it kinda dissolves on the face. does remove makeup well and is non-irritating. very inexpensive product. better for those with no skin concerns

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser For Sensitive Skin.

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