Neogen Dermalogy A-Clear Foam Cleanser Versus Benton AC BHA Foam Cleansing
Updated on March 14, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA, BHA, exfoliants and PHA
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, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates
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
Neogen Dermalogy A-Clear Foam Cleanser 27 ingredients
Benton AC BHA Foam Cleansing 43 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Neogen Dermalogy A-Clear Foam Cleanser 27 ingredients
Benton AC BHA Foam Cleansing 43 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
Masking
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Acrylates Copolymer
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Calamine
AbsorbentPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Water, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Potassium Cocoate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Guaiazulene, Gluconolactone, Calamine, Panthenol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningLactobionic Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Chloride
Masking
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningLevulinic Acid
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Potassium Cocoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salicylic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces Ferment, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Tromethamine, Sodium Chloride, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Levulinate, Levulinic Acid
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 WaterChances 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.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate is a surfactant and helps cleanse skin. It is created from the fatty acids of coconut oil.
Surfactants help rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants easily from skin. It has a faint fruit-like scent.
This ingredient is the potassium salt of coconut acid. Coconut acid is created by mixing fatty acids from coconut oil.
It is an emulsifier, surfactant, and cleanser. According to a manufacturer, it contains glycerin.
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 AcidThis tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the Tea Tree plant. Tea tree oil has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
According to the book Journal of Profiles of Drug Substances, tea tree helps in reducing acne-causing bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes. This is due to the Terpinen components of tea tree oil.
Tea tree may cause sensitivity and irritation for some people. This oil naturally contains fragrance such as linalool and limonene.
However, research shows irritation usually occurs when using pure tea tree oil and not in cosmetic products.
Tea tree oil was found to help relieve the symptoms of psoriasis in one study.
Tea tree oil is toxic when ingested. Another study showed it to caused damage to the nervous system of dogs and cats when applied to their skin or given orally.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCapryloyl Salicylic Acid comes from salicylic acid, the famous acne-fighting BHA.
It usually goes by a more common name of LHA, or lipohydroxy acid.
Like salicylic acid, this ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that can help break down the oil in your pores and reduce inflammation.
Though studies for LHA do show it to be less effective than salicylic acid. To be fair, salicylic acid is the reigning monarch of acne treatments.
However, a study from 2009 found LHA to be comparable to BPO, making it a good alternative for people with sensitive skin. Another study of 14 patients found a significant decrease in comedones after using LHA.
Another pro of LHA? It is less irritating than salicylic acid due to its large molecule size.
Large molecules cannot penetrate skin as well, so they are gentler on the skin. LHA is much less penetrative than salicylic acid.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found only 6% of LHA penetrated past the statum corneum compared to 58% of salicylic acid. An in-vivo (done on a living organism) analysis revealed ~17% of LHA was still present in the top layer of skin after 4 days, versus ~9% of salicylic acid.
Interestingly, a study from 2008 found LHA comparable to another famous acid, glycolic acid.
This study found about 10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and fine-lines.
Hydroxy acids have been found to stimulate skin protein, lipids, and thermal thickening. This may have anti-aging benefits.
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic AcidButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Centella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractMadecassoside comes from the super popular skin-soothing ingredient, Centella asiatica. It is one of four active compounds found in the extract of Centella Asiatica.
Madecassoside has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating properties. It contains fatty acids, amino acids, beta-carotene, and phytochemicals.
One study found using Madecassoside with ascorbic acid helped reduce the signs of aging and improved skin hydration.
Learn more about MadecassosideIngredient Ratings
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