Benzac AC Moderate Strength 5% Acne Gel Versus Galderma Benzac Benzoyl Peroxide Spots Treatment Gel 5%
Updated on December 13, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe facial treatments. They have a total of 4 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, fragrances, oils or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Benzac AC Moderate Strength 5% Acne Gel 9 ingredients
Galderma Benzac Benzoyl Peroxide Spots Treatment Gel 5% 9 ingredients
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Benzac AC Moderate Strength 5% Acne Gel 9 ingredients
Galderma Benzac Benzoyl Peroxide Spots Treatment Gel 5% 9 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
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:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Ingredients Side-by-side
Helps fight Acne 4 Concerns
Benzoyl Peroxide is famous for fighting acne. This is because it does a variety of tasks on the skin: it helps reduce excess oil, kill bacteria, and clear out dead skin cells. In other words, it is effective at unclogging pores.
Sodium Anisate comes from fennel. It is used as a preservative and to add flavoring.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.
Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
Sodium 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.
Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
Hydrated Silica is a type of silicon dioxide. It is called 'hydrated silica' because it is silica with extra bonded water atoms.
Paraben 2 Concerns
Methylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
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.
Sodium 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.
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAWe don't have a description for Poloxamer 182.
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 GlycerinSodium 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 HydroxideIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Benzac AC Moderate Strength 5% Acne Gel 9 ingredients
Galderma Benzac Benzoyl Peroxide Spots Treatment Gel 5% 9 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Benzac AC Moderate Strength 5% Acne Gel 9 ingredients
Periwnkle
Definitely use it. I had a couple days ago I had really problematic bumpy forehead with painful pimples but it calmed it all up in a few nights....
Definitely use it. I had a couple days ago I had really problematic bumpy forehead with painful pimples but it calmed it all up in a few nights. Note that It can bleach your pillows etc. and it's flaky if you rub it.
Galderma Benzac Benzoyl Peroxide Spots Treatment Gel 5% 9 ingredients
Taynara Motta
HG
I had a really really bad hormonal acne breakout last year bc I had to stop taking birth control pills and absolutely nothing worked. I'm to...
HG
I had a really really bad hormonal acne breakout last year bc I had to stop taking birth control pills and absolutely nothing worked. I'm to blame tho because I was trying way too many things all at once (I had never dealt with acne before and was desperate lol) and had a damaged skin barrier. From February til May I was working on getting my skin barrier good and healthy again so I wasn't using any actives and since June I've been using this gel. My skin is so clear right now, even though it's been only two months! It's not as irritating (and as drying) as you would expect considering it's benzoyl peroxide. Because I had to stop taking birth control pills, my skin oiliness increased a lot due to hormonal imbalances at the time and I also had a fungal acne breakout and this gel has also helped in 100%.
SpaceyTrxsh
Out of all the acne products I've tried this is the only one that helped with my inflamed acne. Now I have zero active acne on my face thanks to this.
