Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen Versus The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment - Europe
Updated on June 19, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain BHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens and fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen 46 ingredients
The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment 22 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen 46 ingredients
The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment 22 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Nigella Sativa Seed Extract
Perfuming
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polydextrose
HumectantCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Agar
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Gellan Gum
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingSebacic Acid
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Butylene Glycol, Nigella Sativa Seed Extract, Isopentyldiol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Lactic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Niacinamide, Polydextrose, Caffeine, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Agar, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Glycerin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Gellan Gum, Sodium Anisate, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Azelaic Acid, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Phosphate, Sebacic Acid, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Colloidal Sulfur
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Succinic Acid
BufferingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Squalane
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Malachite Extract
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
CI 75810
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Colloidal Sulfur, Glycerin, Succinic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Dehydroacetic Acid, Malachite Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, CI 75810
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.
Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.
In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterSodium 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 HydroxideGlycerin 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 GlycerinPolysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen 46 ingredients
The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment 22 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen 46 ingredients
This is a great lil pen to have in my purse if I need to treat a pimple I didn’t notice before leaving the house or when I’m traveling. I wish the pen was a little smaller so it’s more stealthy in my bag.
It’s okay, it leave like this weird peel on my skin, like a liquid pimple patch, I can’t really tell if it ever brought down my acne or not
The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment 22 ingredients
I used this back in 2022 and it worked really good and healed my acne really quickly when I needed it to. However, for some reason over time it just stopped working for me and didn’t have the same effect as it did before which really disappointed me because I loved it so much. It was still a really good product though.
I bought this from Look Fantastic
The only product that has made a significant difference within 24 hours, decreases redness and texture quickly
