This salicylic acid gel cleanser is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and unclog pores.
This foaming cleanser uses mild cleansing ingredients, but contains alcohol that may feel drying for some.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingZinc PCA
Humectant
Salicylic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Betaine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, PEG-150 Distearate, Potassium Sorbate, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Zinc PCA
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Surfactant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Powder
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Vigna Radiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Betaine
Humectant
Polyquaternium-39
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Glycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Powder, Lauryl Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Chloride, Alcohol, Betaine, Polyquaternium-39, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
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.
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 preservatives
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateChances 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
