Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Beautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser versus Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water .
Published on October 13, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and BHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and oils
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
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).
Makeup Remover
Makeup removers work to remove makeup from the skin.
Price
Ingredient Info
Beautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser 23 ingredients
Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water 18 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
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 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Beautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser 23 ingredients
Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water 18 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.
Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Beautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser 23 ingredients
Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water 18 ingredients
Water • Pentylene Glycol • Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate • Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate • Lauryl Glucoside • Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside • Glycerin • Jojoba Esters • Sodium Citrate • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract • Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract • Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate • Xanthan Gum • Salicylic Acid • Acacia Senegal Gum • Phytic Acid • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil • Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil • Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil • Canarium Luzonicum Gum Nonvolatiles • Panthenol • Citric Acid
Water • Glycerin • Propanediol • Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water • Arginine • Salicylic Acid • Coco-Betaine • Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside • Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate • Xanthan Gum • Phytic Acid • Buddleja Davidii Extract • Thymus Vulgaris Extract • Sodium Chloride • Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate • Citric Acid • Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil • Thymus Zygis Flower Oil
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterBeautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.
Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water contains this as ingredient number 1.
We don't have a description for Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate.
Beautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 4.
Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water contains this as ingredient number 9.
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside is an alkyl glucoside. This just means it is creating by reacting alcohol and sugar. It is a cleansing and foaming ingredient.
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside helps remove the dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin.
Beautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.
Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water contains this as ingredient number 8.
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 GlycerinBeautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 7.
Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water contains this as ingredient number 2.
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate is a gentle cleanser and surfactant. It is the sodium salt of the Cocoyl Glutamic Acid and comes from coconut oil. As a surfactant, it helps lift dirt and oil to be washed away.
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate also has an emolliating effect and can help leave the skin feeling soft.
Beautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 13.
Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water contains this as ingredient number 15.
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 GumBeautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 14.
Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water contains this as ingredient number 10.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.
Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.
In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidBeautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 15.
Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water contains this as ingredient number 6.
Phytic Acid is a gentle AHA and antioxidant. The chemical makeup makes it classified as an AHA, such as lactic acid.
AHAs are chemical exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells. Phytic Acid has a slight exfoliating effect. Phytic Acid has been shown to help calm irritation. In some cases, it is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water, helping to stabilize the ingredients in a product.
As an antioxidant, phytic acid may help with the signs of aging. Antioxidants help neutralize free-radical molecules. These molecules may damage your skin cells.
An interesting fact about phytic acid is that it is considered an antinutrient. People do not have the enzyme needed to properly breakdown and digest phytic acid. When ingested, phytic acid binds to minerals and prevents them from being absorbed.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Phytic AcidBeautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 17.
Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water contains this as ingredient number 11.
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 AcidBeautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 23.
Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water contains this as ingredient number 16.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Beautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser 23 ingredients
Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water 18 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Beautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser 23 ingredients
Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water 18 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Beautycounter Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser.
See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Kiehl's Herbal-Infused Micellar Cleansing Water.
See 50 alternatives