This acne exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and refine skin texture.
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
Salicylic Acid 1%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingPotassium Laureth Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer
Glycereth-18 Ethylhexanoate
Skin ConditioningDisodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingKaolin
Abrasive
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Glycereth-18
HumectantDMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Salicylic Acid 1%, Water, Hydrated Silica, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Potassium Laureth Phosphate, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Citric Acid, Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer, Glycereth-18 Ethylhexanoate, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Kaolin, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Menthyl Lactate, Parfum, Glycereth-18, DMDM Hydantoin
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract
Abrasive
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Seed Extract
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningGlucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantCeteth-25
CleansingOleth-10
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Charcoal Powder, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glycolic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Citrus Paradisi Seed Extract, Water, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Ceteth-25, Oleth-10, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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
