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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser versus SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser .

Last updated on February 16, 2024. Published on June 28, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 14 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

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 French Brand France
Face Cleanser American Brand United States

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

Shop

Buy Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser

Starts at $9.99
Shop

Buy Purifying Cleanser

Starts at $39.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Vitamin C
Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Brightening (4)

Concerns

Drying
Acne Trigger
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (4)

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (3)
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.

Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.

This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.

Those with sensitive skin or conditions may deliver a rash when using this ingredient.

Learn more about Propylene Glycol

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Emulsifying

Peg-30 Glyceryl Cocoate isn't fungal acne safe.

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.

4
What it does: Cleansing, Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Capryl/Capramidopropyl Betaine.

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 4.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 4.

5
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Glycerin

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 5.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 5.

6
What it does: Cleansing
Community Rating: Disliked

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 Betaine

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 7.

7
What it does: Cleansing, Foaming
Community Rating: Disliked

We don't have a description for Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate.

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 7.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.

8
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 10.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 14.

9
What it does: Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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 Chloride

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 11.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 8.

10
What it does: Buffering
Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 12.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 12.

11
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 13.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 11.

12
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 15.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 9.

13
What it does: Masking, Preservative
Community Rating: Disliked

Benzoic Acid is used to preserve and adjust the pH of products.

The antimicrobial property of Benzoic Acid helps elongate a product's shelf life. Its main role is to reduce fungi growth and is not found to be effective at fighting bacteria. Therefore Benzoic Acid is always added along with other preservatives.

In its pure form, Benzoic Acid looks like a white crystalline solid. It has slight solubility in water.

The name of Benzoic Acid comes from gum benzoin, which used to be the sole source of deriving this ingredient. Benzoic Acid is the most simple aromatic carboxylic acid.

Benzoic Acid is naturally occuring in strawberries, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. It has a slight scent but is not considered to be a fragrance.

Learn more about Benzoic Acid

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 16.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 13.

14
What it does: Buffering
Community Rating: Loved

Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous AHA with research to back up its benefits. Its main role is to peel the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Glycolic Acid has shown to boost collage production, a protein that helps skin stay firm. Overall, Glycolic Acid helps with improving uneven tone, rough patches of skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. It also increases skin hydration by playing a role in creating molecules that create hyaluronic acid naturally.

When applying Glycolic Acid, it is normal to feel slight stinging. The pH value and concentration of glycolic acid play a role in the effectiveness of the product.

Recent studies have shown Glycolic Acid may protect the skin against UV damage. However, you should always wear SPF, especially when using exfoliants.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Glycolic Acid

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 19.

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 10.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

40% are loved or liked
5% have mixed ratings
40% are disliked or very disliked
15% have no rating yet
29% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
50% are disliked or very disliked
14% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Garnier Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser 20 ingredients

Pinea-C Brightening Gel Washable Cleanser hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser 14 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 review
uwelhqelfl's Avatar'
Aug 7, 2022

pretty good :)!!
I have oily acne-prone skin and I have been using this cleanser for several years now and it has worked pretty well for me totally reccomend!!

pretty good :)!!
I have oily acne-prone skin and I have been using this cleanser for several years now and it has worked pretty well for me totally reccomend!!

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