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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Chemist Confessions Inc. The Specialist Exfoliation Treatment versus Geek & Gorgeous Cheer Up 6% Mandelic + BHA Liquid .

Last updated on September 25, 2023. Published on December 17, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe exfoliators. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA and 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 harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, 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.

Exfoliator American Brand United States
Exfoliator Hungarian Brand Hungary

Exfoliator

Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.

Exfoliator

Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.

Price

Shop

Buy The Specialist Exfoliation Treatment

Shop

Buy Cheer Up 6% Mandelic + BHA Liquid

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
Niacinamide

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin (2)
Redness Reducing
Reduces Large Pores (3)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

AHA
BHA

Benefits

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

Concerns

Drying
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema
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Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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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.

Chemist Confessions Inc. The Specialist Exfoliation Treatment contains this as ingredient number 1.

Geek & Gorgeous Cheer Up 6% Mandelic + BHA Liquid contains this as ingredient number 9.

2
What it does: Antimicrobial
Community Rating: Liked

Mandelic Acid helps exfoliate skin. It also contains antioxidant properties.

As an AHA, Mandelic 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.

Mandelic Acid may be an alternative to Glycolic Acid for those with sensitive skin.

Mandelic Acid may help reduce wrinkles, acne, and hyperpigmentation.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Mandelic Acid

Chemist Confessions Inc. The Specialist Exfoliation Treatment contains this as ingredient number 2.

Geek & Gorgeous Cheer Up 6% Mandelic + BHA Liquid contains this as ingredient number 3.

3
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

Chemist Confessions Inc. The Specialist Exfoliation Treatment contains this as ingredient number 3.

Geek & Gorgeous Cheer Up 6% Mandelic + BHA Liquid contains this as ingredient number 1.

4
What it does: Solvent
Community Rating: Liked

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 Propanediol

Chemist Confessions Inc. The Specialist Exfoliation Treatment contains this as ingredient number 4.

Geek & Gorgeous Cheer Up 6% Mandelic + BHA Liquid contains this as ingredient number 2.

5
What it does: Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

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 Acid

Chemist Confessions Inc. The Specialist Exfoliation Treatment contains this as ingredient number 7.

Geek & Gorgeous Cheer Up 6% Mandelic + BHA Liquid contains this as ingredient number 4.

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

42% are loved or liked
17% have mixed ratings
8% are disliked or very disliked
33% have no rating yet
64% are loved or liked
21% have mixed ratings
14% are disliked or very disliked
0% 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

Chemist Confessions Inc. The Specialist Exfoliation Treatment 12 ingredients

The Specialist Exfoliation Treatment hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Geek & Gorgeous Cheer Up 6% Mandelic + BHA Liquid 14 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Irritating (1) Light (1) Light Scent (1)
sword's avatar

sword

3 months ago · Oily Skin
Review

This is definitely effective as an exfoliator, but I feel like this is too strong for me. It did noticeably shrink my pores but it also stung my...

This is definitely effective as an exfoliator, but I feel like this is too strong for me. It did noticeably shrink my pores but it also stung my skin and caused irritation. I would only suggest this to people with skin that can withstand strong exfoliators.

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 24 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Chemist Confessions Inc. The Specialist Exfoliation Treatment.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 36 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Geek & Gorgeous Cheer Up 6% Mandelic + BHA Liquid.

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