This salicylic acid foaming cleanser is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and unclog pores.
This salicylic acid cream cleanser is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and unclog pores.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Betaine
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantTotarol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycol Distearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Citrate, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Betaine, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, 2,3-Butanediol, Totarol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Gluconolactone, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Sweet Almond Seedcake
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Polygonum Fagopyrum Flour
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-67
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Asparagus Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Hyssopus Officinalis Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Hydrolyzed Sweet Almond Seedcake, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coconut Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Polygonum Fagopyrum Flour, Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-67, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Bakuchiol, Asparagus Officinalis Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hyssopus Officinalis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid comes from salicylic acid, the famous acne-fighting BHA.
It usually goes by a more common name of LHA, or lipohydroxy acid.
Like salicylic acid, this ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that can help break down the oil in your pores and reduce inflammation.
Though studies for LHA do show it to be less effective than salicylic acid. To be fair, salicylic acid is the reigning monarch of acne treatments.
However, a study from 2009 found LHA to be comparable to BPO, making it a good alternative for people with sensitive skin. Another study of 14 patients found a significant decrease in comedones after using LHA.
Another pro of LHA? It is less irritating than salicylic acid due to its large molecule size.
Large molecules cannot penetrate skin as well, so they are gentler on the skin. LHA is much less penetrative than salicylic acid.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found only 6% of LHA penetrated past the statum corneum compared to 58% of salicylic acid. An in-vivo (done on a living organism) analysis revealed ~17% of LHA was still present in the top layer of skin after 4 days, versus ~9% of salicylic acid.
Interestingly, a study from 2008 found LHA comparable to another famous acid, glycolic acid.
This study found about 10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and fine-lines.
Hydroxy acids have been found to stimulate skin protein, lipids, and thermal thickening. This may have anti-aging benefits.
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate is a modified starch used to help thicken a product.
It is also used in foods.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
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 this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
