Pond's Bright Miracle Ultimate Acne Control Thymo-BHA Facial Foam Versus Wardah Acnederm Pure Foaming Cleanser
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Myristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycol Distearate
EmollientLauric Acid
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing4-Ethylresorcinol
AntimicrobialSalicylic Acid
MaskingThymol
AntimicrobialTerpineol
MaskingParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-4 Laurate
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-7
Disodium EDTA
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingMenthol
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristic Acid, Glycerin, Water, Propylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycol Distearate, Lauric Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, 4-Ethylresorcinol, Salicylic Acid, Thymol, Terpineol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-4 Laurate, Polyquaternium-7, Disodium EDTA, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium Benzoate, Menthol, Sodium Hydroxide
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingAcrylates Copolymer
PEG-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeParfum
MaskingTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Chloride, Decyl Glucoside, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-3 Distearate, Zinc Gluconate, Salicylic Acid, DMDM Hydantoin, Parfum, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Decyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl 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 EDTAParfum 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.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or '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 ParfumPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
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 this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidWater. 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