This salicylic acid cream cleanser is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and unclog pores.
This mild gel cleanser is mild enough to cleanse without leaving skin feeling tight or stripped.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTea-Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Methyltaurate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glucomannan
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Castanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Peel Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningSucrose Stearate
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicPueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Laurus Nobilis Leaf Extract
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Stearyl Alcohol, Coconut Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Isethionate, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sodium Methyltaurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, Glucomannan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Peel Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Guaiazulene, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Sucrose Stearate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Laurus Nobilis Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Papain, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Glycol
SolventCamellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Coco-Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Gluceth-10, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Benzyl Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Sodium Polyacrylate, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCoco-Betaine is the natural version of Cocamidopropyl Betaine. It is often derived from coconuts.
Coco-Betaine is a surfactant, meaning it helps remove dirt and oil from the skin.
Coco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolChances 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.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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
