Garnier SkinActive Micellar Foaming Cleanser Versus Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Face Wash Cream Cleanser
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
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingPEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
SurfactantPolyquaternium-11
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingVitis Vinifera
MaskingCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Polysorbate 20, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Citric Acid, Cocamide Mea, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Polyquaternium-11, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Vitis Vinifera, Ceramide AP
Salicylic Acid 2%
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientGlycolic Acid
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantSteareth-21
CleansingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingC12-15 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientCetyl Lactate
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Menthol
MaskingBenzalkonium Chloride
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid 2%, Water, Cetyl Alcohol, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Steareth-21, Polysorbate 60, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Cetyl Lactate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Menthol, Benzalkonium Chloride, Panthenol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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