Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Carbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser versus The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser .
Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on September 23, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain BHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any oils, parabens, 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
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
Ingredient Info
Carbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser 15 ingredients
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser 25 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
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 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
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 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
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:
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Carbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser 15 ingredients
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser 25 ingredients
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:
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:
Concerns
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:
This product contains 2 ingredients 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 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 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 3 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 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Carbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser 15 ingredients
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser 25 ingredients
Water • Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate • Cocamidopropyl Betaine • Lauryl Glucoside • Decyl Glucoside • Propanediol • Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate • Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate • Salicylic Acid • Sodium Benzoate • Stearamidopropyl Betaine • Dimethyltolylamine • Potassium Sorbate • Sodium Hydroxide • Citric Acid
Propanediol • Glycerin • Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate • Cocamidopropyl Betaine • Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate • Salicylic Acid • Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate • Peg-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides • Betaine • Zinc PCA • Phenoxyethanol • Sodium Chloride • Allantoin • Sodium Hydroxide • Coco-Glucoside • Glyceryl Oleate • Benzyl Alcohol • Coconut Acid • Ethylhexylglycerin • Sodium Benzoate • Citric Acid • Dehydroacetic Acid • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Tocopherol • Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
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.
This gentle cleansing and foaming ingredient is known for leaving a smooth feeling in skin and hair. It is made using coconut oil.
According to the manufacturer, it is soluble in water and has resistance to hard water, acid, and alkali.
Due to its coconut base, it may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateCarbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.
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 BetaineCarbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 4.
Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.
It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolCarbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 AcidCarbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 9.
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateCarbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 10.
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 20.
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.
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 HydroxideCarbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 14.
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 14.
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 AcidCarbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 15.
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 21.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Carbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser 15 ingredients
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser 25 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Carbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser 15 ingredients
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser 25 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Carbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser 15 ingredients
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser 25 ingredients
gemmajaws
Great option to keep skin clear
Very gentle, lightly foaming cleanser, love the short squeezable bottle with flip top cap, perfect for keeping in...
Great option to keep skin clear
Very gentle, lightly foaming cleanser, love the short squeezable bottle with flip top cap, perfect for keeping in the shower. Effective but not stripping on the skin like some other SA cleansers I’ve tried. Free from pore clogging ingredients, this has become one of my all time favorite cleansers. For background, I have dry skin that is also prone to dehydration and is sensitive with a fair amount of surface redness on it so I only use this once per week. It’s not often I can use a foaming cleanser without it drying my skin and leaving it tight and itchy but this one is wonderful.
Hubayobi
Good cleanser
Been using this a lot. Didn’t really do much to my skin, but it’s very cheap and a good daily cleanser for acne prone skin.
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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Carbon Theory Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Gel Cleanser.
See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser.
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