CeraVe Acne Control Gel Versus Kiehl's Expertly Clear Acne-Treating & Preventing Lotion
Updated on February 03, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain BHA and niacinamide
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, oils or parabens
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
CeraVe Acne Control Gel 24 ingredients
Kiehl's Expertly Clear Acne-Treating & Preventing Lotion 27 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
CeraVe Acne Control Gel 24 ingredients
Kiehl's Expertly Clear Acne-Treating & Preventing Lotion 27 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Niacinamide, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Benzoic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-4
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Silica Silylate
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentMenthol
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Salicylic Acid 1.2%
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hydroxide, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Laureth-4, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Propylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dimethiconol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Zinc PCA, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Silica Silylate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Maltodextrin, Menthol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Salicylic Acid 1.2%
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AcidWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin 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 HydroxideNiacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamideCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
CeraVe Acne Control Gel 24 ingredients
Kiehl's Expertly Clear Acne-Treating & Preventing Lotion 27 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
CeraVe Acne Control Gel 24 ingredients
help
I don't know what exactly happened, whether I mixed it with other products whose ingredients didn't go well with those in this gel, but this thing made my skin purge. I might have overused it as well, since I know nothing about skincare, though nonetheless it made my skin angry after one use. Just not for me.
In the first week after I bought it I used it twice and it had an immediate purgative effect. The only problem is that if you don't use it with a good moisturizing cream it dries out a lot. I recommend that once the pimples have come out, you use salicylic acid patches so that the extraction is faster and they don't leave marks on the skin. They complement each other very well.
