This salicylic acid foaming 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 ConditioningPotassium Palm Kernelate
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingMilk Protein Extract
Glycol Distearate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingArginine
MaskingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Palmitate
EmulsifyingSodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-43
Polyquaternium-7
Stearic Acid
CleansingHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingAroma
Water, Potassium Palm Kernelate, Potassium Cocoate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Milk Protein Extract, Glycol Distearate, Niacinamide, Arginine, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Propylene Glycol, Potassium Palmitate, Sodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Polyquaternium-43, Polyquaternium-7, Stearic Acid, Hydroxystearic Acid, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Sodium Benzoate, Aroma
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycol Distearate
EmollientAcrylates Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSalicylic Acid
MaskingMentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Lactobionic Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
BufferingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-150 Distearate, Cocamide Mea, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salicylic Acid, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Lactobionic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Citric Acid, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.
That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.
This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.
Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateMethylparaben is a synthetic preservative and one of the most widely used in the world. It has a simple, but important job: prevent your products from going bad by stopping bacteria, yeast, and mold from growing.
Typical use levels are low, often 0.1-0.3%.
This is also one of the most heavily studied preservatives out there and major regulatory bodies have repeatedly given it the green light.
In 2023, the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) confirmed that this ingredient is safe up to 0.4% on its own, of up to 0.8% when mixed with other paraben esters.
Here's the science behind the noise behind parabens/hormones as well:
Methylparaben shows very weak estrogen-like activity in vitro tests (more than 1,000x weaker than your body's own estradiol). In vivo (live-organism) studies don't support a meaningful endocrine-disrupting effect either.
You get a stronger estrogenic effect from eating tofu, actually.
It's also a low sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon; they usually happen on damage or broken skin.
There is a caveat: France has proposed to formally re-examine its endocrine classification in 2025 so the regulatory conversation isn't fully closed as of yet.
But as it stands today, this ingredient is considered safe at permitted levels.
Learn more about MethylparabenPropylparaben is a preservative and one of the most widely used members of the paraben family (it's been used in cosmetics for over a century now).
It works by disrupting microbial cell membranes and enzymes, and is a broad-spectrum protector that works exceptionally well against molds, yeasts, and gram-positive bacteria.
You'll likely see it paired with methylparaben to cover the full range (including gram-negative bacteria).
This ingredient is effective at low concentrations (~0.2-0.5%) and stable across a wide pH range (4.5-7.5 pH). It's effectiveness drops off above pH 8 and it can lose potency when combined with non-ionic surfactants like polysorbate 80 due to micellization.
The regulatory bodies have concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics. The EU has capped it at 0.14% and combined parabens are not to exceed 0.8%.
While parabens do cross the stratum corneum, only about 1% remains for absorption into the body. This is because most of it is metabolized within living skin.
Learn more about PropylparabenSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateChances 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.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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