This salicylic acid gel cleanser is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and unclog pores.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingMannitol
HumectantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSucrose
HumectantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantEctoin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate, Citric Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium PCA, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Panthenol, Potassium Cocoate, Mannitol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sucrose, Zea Mays Starch, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Ectoin
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Palm Kernelate
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingMilk Protein Extract
Glycol Distearate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingArginine
MaskingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Palmitate
EmulsifyingSodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-43
Polyquaternium-7
Stearic Acid
CleansingHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingAroma
Water, Potassium Palm Kernelate, Potassium Cocoate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Milk Protein Extract, Glycol Distearate, Niacinamide, Arginine, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Propylene Glycol, Potassium Palmitate, Sodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Polyquaternium-43, Polyquaternium-7, Stearic Acid, Hydroxystearic Acid, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Sodium Benzoate, Aroma
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a semi-synthetic polymer created from cellulose. In case you need a refresher, cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls.
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose has many uses:
- emulsifier
- create a gel-like texture
- boost foam
Potassium Cocoate is basically a liquid coconut soap that's made by cooking coconut oil with potassium hydroxide.
It's a cleanser, foaming, and emulsifying agent that mostly shows up in soaps and "natural" cleansers.
Rinse-off concentrations typically range from 2-25%.
The finished product sits at a fairly high pH (~9-11) because it's a true soap. This just means it can feel drying or slightly stripping if a formula isn't balance with emollients.
Allergy and irritation risk is low as this ingredient was found to be an irritant in less than 1% of subjects (2 of these subjects had active psoriasis and 3 had active eczema).
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids in the ~C12-24 range, and Potassium Cocoate is made of exactly those (Lauric C12, Myristic C14, Palmitic C16, Oleic C18:1). Lab studies have shown the yeast can take up Lauric Acid and grows readily on Palmitic Acid. Therefore, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Potassium CocoatePotassium Cocoyl Glycinate is an amino acid-based surfactant and cleaning agent. This ingredient can be derived from animals or plants. It may also be synthetically created from fatty acids of the coconut and glycine.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is a gentle surfactant. Surfactants help gather the dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away. It is a mild cleanser and naturally produces foam.
Sodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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