Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner Versus The Derma Co 1% Salicylic Acid Gel Face Wash with Salicylic Acid & Witch Hazel
This hydrating toner is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract and Arginine to hydrate skin and calm redness.
This salicylic acid gel 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
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Nardus Oil
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Hedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialMalva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningParietaria Officinalis Extract
EmollientSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-4
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Ricinoleth-40
CleansingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Arginine, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Cymbopogon Nardus Oil, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Hedera Helix Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Parietaria Officinalis Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-4, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Ricinoleth-40, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Geraniol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C16 Olefin Sulfonate
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Water, Sodium C16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Cocamide Mea, Sodium Lactate, Salicylic Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Triethylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateWater. 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
