Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Proactiv Post Acne Scar Gel versus Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer .
Published on March 15, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain peptides and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils and silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Price
Ingredient Info
Proactiv Post Acne Scar Gel 26 ingredients
Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer 22 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Proactiv Post Acne Scar Gel 26 ingredients
Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer 22 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.
Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Proactiv Post Acne Scar Gel 26 ingredients
Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer 22 ingredients
Water • Dimethicone • Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Bis-Peg-12 Dimethicone • Glyceryl Oleate Citrate • Ethoxydiglycol • Butylene Glycol • Bakuchiol • Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate • Phenoxyethanol • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil • Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil • Citric Acid • Sodium Hydroxide • Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil • Tocopheryl Acetate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Disodium EDTA • Squalane • Asiaticoside • Madecassic Acid • Asiatic Acid • Dextran • Tripeptide-1
Salicylic Acid 1% • Dimethicone • Polysilicone-11 • Butylene Glycol • Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Sodium Acrylates Copolymer • Squalane • Lecithin • Oligopeptide-10 • Tocopheryl Acetate • Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid Copolymer • Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate • Ceteareth-20 • Cetearyl Alcohol • Polysorbate 60 • Ppg-12/Smdi Copolymer • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Ethoxydiglycol • Sodium Hydroxide • Disodium EDTA • O-Cymen-5-Ol
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.
Proactiv Post Acne Scar Gel contains this as ingredient number 2.
Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 2.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideProactiv Post Acne Scar Gel contains this as ingredient number 4.
Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 6.
Ethoxydiglycol is a synthetic solvent.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Ethoxydiglycol also helps deliver other key ingredients into the skin.
Learn more about EthoxydiglycolProactiv Post Acne Scar Gel contains this as ingredient number 7.
Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 19.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
Proactiv Post Acne Scar Gel contains this as ingredient number 8.
Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 4.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideProactiv Post Acne Scar Gel contains this as ingredient number 16.
Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 20.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateProactiv Post Acne Scar Gel contains this as ingredient number 18.
Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 11.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAProactiv Post Acne Scar Gel contains this as ingredient number 20.
Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 21.
Squalane is an emollient that helps the skin hold onto moisture. It's an oily liquid that occurs naturally in certain types of fish and plant oils.
Because squalane boosts hydration in the skin, it also comes with plenty of benefits: it is an antioxidant and can help fight free radicals and skin damage. Squalane is also found to have a detoxifying effect when applied.
Squalane comes from squalene, which occurs naturally within the sebum of our skin. It is one of the oils our skin produces to keep itself hydrated. Squalane is the hydrogenated version of squalene and has a longer shelf life.
Research shows that squalane is non-irritating (even at 100% concentration).
In general, it's a fantastic ingredient. It does a great job at hydrating the skin, and it's suitable for those with sensitive skin.
The source of squalane may impact malassezia / fungal acne. This is because olive oil derived squalane can contain impurities such as fatty acids and plant waxes. Sugarcane derived squalane is recommended for anyone with malassezia concerns.
Is squalane vegan? This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Learn more about SqualaneProactiv Post Acne Scar Gel contains this as ingredient number 21.
Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 8.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Proactiv Post Acne Scar Gel 26 ingredients
Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer 22 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Proactiv Post Acne Scar Gel 26 ingredients
Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer 22 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 8 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Proactiv Post Acne Scar Gel.
See 8 alternativesWe haven't detected any alternatives for Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment & Moisturizer.
