Novaclear Acne Cream Versus No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid
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 and reducing pores
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 needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Novaclear Acne Cream 27 ingredients
No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid 31 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Novaclear Acne Cream 27 ingredients
No7 Laboratories Acne Treatment 2% Salicylic Acid 31 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Steareth-21
CleansingDimethicone
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Poloxamer 407
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingWater, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Propylene Glycol, Steareth-2, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Steareth-21, Dimethicone, Salicylic Acid, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Squalane, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Panthenol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Silica, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Oleic Acid, Poloxamer 407, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethanolamine
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Octyldodecanol
EmollientKaolin
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Polyacrylamide
Steareth-21
CleansingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingDimethicone
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBisabolol
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Fructose
HumectantGlucose
HumectantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol Denat., Octyldodecanol, Kaolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Polyacrylamide, Steareth-21, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Steareth-2, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Dimethicone, Betaine, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Phenoxyethanol, Laureth-7, Caprylyl Glycol, Bisabolol, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, T-Butyl Alcohol, Fructose, Glucose, CI 14700, CI 42090
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 WaterSteareth-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.
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 AlcoholWe don't have a description for Steareth-21 yet.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeSalicylic 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 AcidXanthan 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 GumCaprylyl 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
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.
Ingredient Ratings
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