Oxy 3-in-1 Maximum Strength Acne Treatment Pads Versus Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads
Updated on April 01, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 3 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and BHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, brightening skin, oily skin and reducing pores
Free From
They both do not contain any oils or parabens
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
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
Oxy 3-in-1 Maximum Strength Acne Treatment Pads 11 ingredients
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads 12 ingredients
Free from
Safety & Ethics
South African Brand
Free from
Safety & Ethics
American Brand
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Oxy 3-in-1 Maximum Strength Acne Treatment Pads 11 ingredients
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads 12 ingredients
Ingredients, at a glance
What's in this product, and how it might affect your skin.
Notable Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients, at a glance
What's in this product, and how it might affect your skin.
Notable Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
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.
Preservative4 Benefits3 Concerns
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is usually an astringent alcohol.
5 Concerns
Capryloyl Glycine is created by adding an acyl group to glycine and caprylic acid chloride.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
2 Concerns
Isoceteth-20 comes from Isocetyl Alcohol. It is an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters isn't fungal acne safe.
Phytic Acid is a gentle AHA and antioxidant. AHAs are chemical exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells. Phytic Acid has a slight and mild exfoliating effect.
2 BenefitsMay worsen Rosacea
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.
Triethanolamine is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
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.
Preservative4 Benefits3 Concerns
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be bad for dry skin, be bad for oily skin, and cause irritation.
3 Concerns
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
5 BenefitsMay worsen Rosacea
DMDM Hydantoin has antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It is a preservative that works by slowly releasing formaldehyde over time.
May cause irritation
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
2 Concerns
Menthol is a compound found in mint plants, such as peppermint. In its pure form, it is a clear crystalline substance.
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.
Simethicone is a silicone. It is an emollient and used to reduce foaming in a product. It is also often used to coat sunscreen ingredients for better spreadability.
Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AcidParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWater. 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 WaterIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Oxy 3-in-1 Maximum Strength Acne Treatment Pads 11 ingredients
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads 12 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Oxy 3-in-1 Maximum Strength Acne Treatment Pads 11 ingredients
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads 12 ingredients
DamDamfino
I've never had an issue with this product being too harsh.
It's not even that drying (you can sometimes feel like a "film" dry down on your skin...
I've never had an issue with this product being too harsh.
It's not even that drying (you can sometimes feel like a "film" dry down on your skin if you put on too much, but it's not the skin that's drying out.)
I don't understand the hype of PC 2% BHA when stridex is not only
- much cheaper
- much easier to find and get your hands on (it's at every dollar store!)
- comes already on pads for each use
People say it's harsh and drying, but there's no menthol (in the red box version), and there's no alcohol.
And I never feel tingly or burning. Maybe I've just grown a tolerance for it?
Anywho, I use this everyday - and I don't only use it on my face, either.
