Dr. Sensitive Tea Tree & Aloe Vera Pimple Relief Serum Cleanser Versus Luxe Organix Miracle Solutions Acne Derm + Gel Cleanser
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 ConditioningSodium Cocomonoglyceride Sulfonate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Cocamide DEA
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Water, Sodium Cocomonoglyceride Sulfonate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Cocamide DEA, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCocamide DEA
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAcrylates Copolymer
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Potassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Gluconic Acid
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactobionic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningLippia Citriodora Leaf Extract
Astringent
Bellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Chloride
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Cocamide DEA, Sodium Chloride, Acrylates Copolymer, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Potassium Cocoate, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Gluconic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactobionic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Lippia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopherol, Potassium Chloride
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract comes from the marigold flower and has been used on skin for centuries for its calming effect.
In the lab, its active compounds appear to calm inflammation and support the early "healing" phase of minor wounds.
This is why Europe's medicines regulator has approved calendula extracts as a traditional remedy for minor skin inflammation and healing small wounds.
The stronger human evidence is around would/ulcer care rather than everyday cosmetic claims; a review that pulled together 14 studies found that calendula helped calm the early, inflamed stage of a wound and helped new skin tissue form faster.
Two studies also showed it shrank leg ulcers (the kind caused by poor circulation). Results were mixed for burns and for the skin irritation people get from radiation treatment, so it's not a sure thing there.
In cosmetics, it's mostly a skin conditioning and soothing agent.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel concluded that calendula-derived ingredients are safe as used and that the ingredients are not irritating, sensitizing, or photosensitizing in clinical tests (though they may be mild eye irritants).
Typical use levels are quite low; industry data reported it used at under 0.5% (one supplier noted a 10-25% extract blend used at 1-10% in the finished product). Historical use goes up to 10%.
The only thing to keep in mind is if you have daisy/ragweed allergies. Calendula is in the same family and one patch-test study found 2% of dermatitis patients reacted to marigold. Be sure to patch test if you have sensitive or allergy-prone skin.
Learn more about Calendula Officinalis Flower ExtractCocamide DEA is a coconut-derived cleansing agent that creates rich foam and helps to thicken the consistency of cleansing products.
This ingredient effectively removes dirt and oil while helping to stabilize formulations, making it a common addition to shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers.
It has become less popular in recent formulations due to potential irritation in sensitive skin types and concerns about trace amounts of diethanolamine (DEA), which can potentially form nitrosamines.
While still considered safe at regulated concentrations, many manufacturers now opt for gentler alternatives like cocamidopropyl betaine or other surfactants that offer similar benefits with fewer potential drawbacks.
Learn more about Cocamide DEACocamidopropyl 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 BetaineDisodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinThis ingredient is also known as tea tree oil. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Tea tree oil is a complex lipophilic (fat-loving) oil that contains around 100 compounds with terpinen-4-ol being the most abundant (~40%).
Terpinen-4-ol is responsible for tea tree oil's broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and makes it a well-researched option for acne.
Clinical studies support 5% tea tree oil as an effective topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. A study with 124 patients compared 5% tea tree oil gel to 5% benzoyl peroxide and both reduced acne (though tea tree oil worked more slowly).
Besides acne, it is also seen in anti-dandruff shampoos and scalp treatments for it's antimicrobial and anti-seborrheic properties.
Safety-wise, the allergic potential of low concentrations on healthy skin is considered low. However, oxidized (old or improperly stored) tea tree oil is a stronger sensitizer.
Irritation can also occur if using the undiluted oil on skin; it's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted cosmetic formula. This is because regulations require tea tree oil in cosmetics to be stabilized to prevent degradation.
This ingredient has been deemed safe up to 2% in shampoo, 1% in cleansers, and 0.1% in face cream by the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
There is some lab evidence that tea tree oil is antifungal against Malassezia, but it is a supportive option at best and not a replacement for proven antifungal treatments.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilWater. 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
