Minimalist Salicylic Acid 02% Versus For Skin’s Sake (FSS) Mandelic Acid Gel 5% With Niacinamide
Updated on January 30, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free, fungal acne (malassezia) safe, and reef safe . They have a total of 5 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
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
Minimalist Salicylic Acid 02% 24 ingredients
For Skin’s Sake (FSS) Mandelic Acid Gel 5% With Niacinamide 17 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
Minimalist Salicylic Acid 02% 24 ingredients
For Skin’s Sake (FSS) Mandelic Acid Gel 5% With Niacinamide 17 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSalicylic Acid
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Marrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolylysine
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Isoceteth-20
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-10
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Polylysine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid, Isoceteth-20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Oligopeptide-10, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Mandelic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Panthenol, Triethylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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 WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Minimalist Salicylic Acid 02% 24 ingredients
For Skin’s Sake (FSS) Mandelic Acid Gel 5% With Niacinamide 17 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Minimalist Salicylic Acid 02% 24 ingredients
2% salicylic acid with a few other goodies that other similarly priced salicylic acid serums dont have like: hyaluronic acid, lactic acid and oligopeptide-10 (microbial).
