This salicylic acid foaming cleanser is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and unclog pores.
This glycolic acid gel cleanser is formulated around Glycolic Acid to exfoliate and smooth skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cocamide DEA
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cera Alba
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cocamide DEA, Propylene Glycol, Cera Alba, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Distearate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, EDTA, BHT, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Propanediol
Solvent
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Glucuronolactone
Skin ConditioningMalic Acid
Buffering
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil
Emollient
Santalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Propanediol, Alpha-Arbutin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Glucuronolactone, Malic Acid, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil, Santalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Alcohol, Tartaric Acid, Glycerin, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
