Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam versus Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser .
Last updated on September 21, 2023. Published on February 07, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain BHA and hyaluronic acid
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 or silicones
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
Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam 32 ingredients
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser 36 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 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:
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 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam 32 ingredients
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser 36 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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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:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients 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 2 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 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam 32 ingredients
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser 36 ingredients
Salicylic Acid 2% • Rosa Damascena Flower Water • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate • Sucrose • Disodium Phosphate • Arginine Cocoate • Laminaria Saccharina Extract • Cola Nitida Seed Extract • Caffeine • Algae Extract • Mentha Piperita Oil • Sea Whip Extract • Peg-6 • Sodium Hyaluronate • Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30 • Lactobacillus Ferment • Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine • Longifolene • Acetyl Glucosamine • Capryloyl Glycine • Perillaldehyde • 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid • Polyquaternium-7 • Beta-Caryophyllene • Phospholipids • Sodium Stearate • Sodium Salicylate • Disodium EDTA • Phenoxyethanol • Chloroxylenol
Water • Glycerin • Sodium Laureth Sulfate • Silica • Acrylates Copolymer • Lauramidopropyl Betaine • Butylene Glycol • Sucrose • Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine • Carica Papaya Fruit Extract • Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract • Laminaria Saccharina Extract • Salicylic Acid • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 • Caffeine • Sodium Hyaluronate • Acetyl Glucosamine • Sodium Coco Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate • Polysorbate 20 • Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate • Citric Acid • Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate • Laureth-2 • Sodium Chloride • Sodium Hydroxide • Sodium Sulfate • Carbomer • Monosodium Citrate • Disodium EDTA • EDTA • BHA • Phenoxyethanol • CI 15510 • CI 19140 • CI 14700
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.
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 AcidClinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 1.
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 13.
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 GlycerinClinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 3.
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.
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.
Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 4.
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 7.
Sucrose is a natural sugar found in fruits, vegetables, and nuts. It is the main constituent of white sugar.
In skincare, sucrose is a humectant and can be a mild exfoliant.
Sucrose is hydrophilic, meaning it attracts water. This makes it an effective humectant and helps hydrate the skin.
Studies show sugars may worsen acne-prone skin due to it disrupting the skin's natural biome. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
In some products such as body scrubs, sucrose is used as an gentle exfoliant.
The term 'sucrose' comes from the french word for sugar, 'sucre'.
Learn more about SucroseClinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 6.
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 8.
We don't have a description for Laminaria Saccharina Extract.
Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 9.
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 12.
Caffeine is most associated with coffee, tea, and cacao. In skincare, it helps with calming inflammation and anti-aging.
Caffeine is an antioxidants, which help with the signs of aging. This is because antioxidants help fight skin-damaging free radical molecules.
While caffeine is used to treat cellulite and and dark circles, further studies are needed to prove this. It has been believed to help with these skin conditions due to its ability to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow.
Some studies are looking into caffeine's ability to protect against UV rays.
Learn more about CaffeineClinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 11.
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 16.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateClinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 16.
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 17.
Acetyl Glucosamine is an antioxidant and humectant. It is a form of Vitamin C.
Acetyl Glucosamine helps the skin produce hyaluronic acid and boost hydration.
Antioxidants help fight off free-radicals, molecules that may damage skin cells.
When paired with niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine has been shown to be effective at reducing discoloration.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Acetyl GlucosamineClinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 21.
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 18.
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 EDTAClinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 30.
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 30.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 31.
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 33.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam 32 ingredients
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser 36 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam 32 ingredients
Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser 36 ingredients
Alternatives
We haven't detected any alternatives for Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam.
Our Dupe Finder has found 10 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser.
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