Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser versus The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser .
Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on November 18, 2020
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, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
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
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 23 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 🎉
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 🎉
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
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 23 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:
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This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 3 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:
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.
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 23 ingredients
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser 25 ingredients
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
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.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.
This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideCOSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 12.
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 BetaineCOSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 5.
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 4.
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate isn't fungal acne safe.
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 7.
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.
Ethylhexylglycerin (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.
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 8.
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 19.
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 GlycerinCOSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 13.
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.
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 AcidCOSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 15.
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.
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 AcidCOSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 23.
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.
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 23 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
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 23 ingredients
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser 25 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...
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 the Etude house foam 6.5 whip cleaner instead and using an exfoliant alongside it. One thing I do like about this cleanser is its consistency, I always loved how it would squirt out but on the downside was it’s drying out of skin. It never “ruined” my skin per se, but there are a lot better products than this for daily cleansing. If you want your skin to feel EXTREMELY scraped of all oils and its essence, sure use this.
Okay.. but NO.. not safe for fungal acne.
Okay.. but NO.. not safe for fungal acne.
Too Harsh for the skin
PH Level is wayy too high on this, it feel like you washed your face with soap, i only use it at night with double cleanse on exfoliation days, but i will not cop another bootle for sure
Too Harsh for the skin
PH Level is wayy too high on this, it feel like you washed your face with soap, i only use it at night with double cleanse on exfoliation days, but i will not cop another bootle for sure
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser 25 ingredients
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...
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.
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.
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.
Texture: watery gel like
Smell: none
Pros:
It's a pretty good product for clearing mild acne. Although you have to keep in mind that it shouldn't be used daily, since it can cause sensitivity. Every other day works best for me. The...
Texture: watery gel like
Smell: none
Pros:
It's a pretty good product for clearing mild acne. Although you have to keep in mind that it shouldn't be used daily, since it can cause sensitivity. Every other day works best for me. The results started around the second month of use. It didn't completely clear my face in the four months I've used it, but it made a tremendous difference.
100% recommend, if your acne isn't too severe.
Cons:
It's too watery and doesn't foam enough, so I end up using a bit much and the bottle lasts me much less time than other alternatives.
Solid 4- 4.5
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser.
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