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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Novaclear Acne Cream versus No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid .

Published on August 01, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain BHA and exfoliants

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Facial Treatment Polish Brand Poland
Facial Treatment British Brand United Kingdom

Facial Treatment

Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.

Facial Treatment

Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.

Price

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

BHA
Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation (2)
Reduces Large Pores
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (4)
Acne Trigger (4)
Irritating
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

BHA
Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin (2)
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation (2)
Reduces Large Pores
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening

Concerns

Drying (4)
May Worsen Oily Skin (4)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (3)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Novaclear Acne Cream contains this as ingredient number 1.

No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Steareth-2 is a waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients. It is created from polyethylene glycol and stearyl alcohol.

The 2 stands for the number of ethylene oxide units used to create this ingredient.

Novaclear Acne Cream contains this as ingredient number 4.

No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 14.

3
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.

Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.

Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.

Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.

Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol

Novaclear Acne Cream contains this as ingredient number 5.

No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 5.

4
What it does: Cleansing, Emulsifying

We don't have a description for Steareth-21.

Novaclear Acne Cream contains this as ingredient number 7.

No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 9.

5
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.

Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.

Novaclear Acne Cream contains this as ingredient number 8.

No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 16.

6
What it does: Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

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 Acid

Novaclear Acne Cream contains this as ingredient number 9.

No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 7.

7
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Novaclear Acne Cream contains this as ingredient number 23.

No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 23.

8
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

Novaclear Acne Cream contains this as ingredient number 24.

No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 21.

9
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.

Novaclear Acne Cream contains this as ingredient number 25.

No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 19.

10
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (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.

Novaclear Acne Cream contains this as ingredient number 26.

No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 25.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

22% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
63% are disliked or very disliked
7% have no rating yet
29% are loved or liked
6% have mixed ratings
52% are disliked or very disliked
13% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

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Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 6 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Novaclear Acne Cream.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 12 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid.

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