COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser Versus Dermalogica Active Clay Cleanser
Updated on June 19, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin and oily skin
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and oils
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
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 23 ingredients
Dermalogica Active Clay Cleanser 38 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 23 ingredients
Dermalogica Active Clay Cleanser 38 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Citrus Limon Fruit Oil
Astringent
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Salix Alba Bark Water
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Myristic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Ethyl Hexanediol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citrus Limon Fruit Oil, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearic Acid, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Lauric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Salix Alba Bark Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Glycol Distearate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Kaolin
Abrasive
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Propanediol
SolventCoconut Acid
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Sodium Astrocaryum Murumuruate
EmollientBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Quartz
Abrasive
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Kaolin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, PEG-100 Stearate, Propanediol, Coconut Acid, Butylene Glycol, Charcoal Powder, Sodium Astrocaryum Murumuruate, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Bioflavonoids, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Myristic Acid, Quartz, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Pentylene Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Citral, Limonene, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterMyristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient 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 BetaineEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.
As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.
Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.
Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin 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 GlycerinButylene 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.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
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 EDTAThis tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the Tea Tree plant. Tea tree oil has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
According to the book Journal of Profiles of Drug Substances, tea tree helps in reducing acne-causing bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes. This is due to the Terpinen components of tea tree oil.
Tea tree may cause sensitivity and irritation for some people. This oil naturally contains fragrance such as linalool and limonene.
However, research shows irritation usually occurs when using pure tea tree oil and not in cosmetic products.
Tea tree oil was found to help relieve the symptoms of psoriasis in one study.
Tea tree oil is toxic when ingested. Another study showed it to caused damage to the nervous system of dogs and cats when applied to their skin or given orally.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
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 even out skin tone.
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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 23 ingredients
Dermalogica Active Clay Cleanser 38 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 23 ingredients
I used to think it was good because of how it really goes DEEP into cleaning your skin, it feels like it’s been scraped out. It’s good if you haven’t washed your face in a week, other than that it’s really bad. And that’s coming from someone who has oily skin and uses Paula’s choice BHA every other day. There are so many better cleansing products than this, I highly advise getting a medium level Show more
Cons: Hadn't realized how much this has been stripping my face of... everything until recent. Not bad at all. In fact, it's one of the best cleansers I've used in a while. But it's probably not something I need to use daily.
Pros: This does a really great job of cleaning the face. Don't think it exfoliates in any way, but my face, at least, would feel taut.
Will I buy this again? Maybe. It Show more
