MDacne Customized Hydrating cleanser Versus COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser
Updated on June 19, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe face cleansers. 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, brightening skin, oily skin and reducing pores
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or silicones
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and oils
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
MDacne Customized Hydrating cleanser 21 ingredients
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 23 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
MDacne Customized Hydrating cleanser 21 ingredients
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 23 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 0.5%
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Disodium Oleamido Mea-Sulfosuccinate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycol Stearate
Emollient
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid 0.5%, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Ascorbic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Cocamide Mea, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Oleamido Mea-Sulfosuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycol Stearate, Glycolic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Callus Culture Extract, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Citrus Limon Fruit Oil
Astringent
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Salix Alba Bark Water
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Myristic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Ethyl Hexanediol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citrus Limon Fruit Oil, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearic Acid, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Lauric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Salix Alba Bark Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Glycol Distearate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Citric Acid
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 WaterCocamidopropyl 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 plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
MDacne Customized Hydrating cleanser 21 ingredients
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 23 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
MDacne Customized Hydrating cleanser 21 ingredients
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 23 ingredients
I used to think it was good because of how it really goes DEEP into cleaning your skin, it feels like it’s been scraped out. It’s good if you haven’t washed your face in a week, other than that it’s really bad. And that’s coming from someone who has oily skin and uses Paula’s choice BHA every other day. There are so many better cleansing products than this, I highly advise getting a medium level Show more
Cons: Hadn't realized how much this has been stripping my face of... everything until recent. Not bad at all. In fact, it's one of the best cleansers I've used in a while. But it's probably not something I need to use daily.
Pros: This does a really great job of cleaning the face. Don't think it exfoliates in any way, but my face, at least, would feel taut.
Will I buy this again? Maybe. It Show more
