Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser versus SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser .
Last updated on February 16, 2024. Published on June 06, 2023
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain BHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens and oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Exfoliator
Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.
Face Cleanser
Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).
Price
Ingredient Info
SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser 27 ingredients
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser 25 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
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:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are 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 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
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 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are 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
SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser 27 ingredients
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser 25 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser 27 ingredients
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser 25 ingredients
Water • Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate • Cocamidopropyl Betaine • Peg/Ppg-8/3 Diisostearate • Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil • Acrylates Copolymer • Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract • Saccharum Officinarum Extract • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract • Citrus Limon Fruit Extract • Acer Saccharum Extract • Salicylic Acid • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Panthenol • Bisabolol • Citric Acid • Glycerin • Ethylhexylglycerin • Sodium Hydroxide • Disodium EDTA • Potassium Sorbate • Phenoxyethanol • Lavandula Angustifolia Oil • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil • Mica • Tin Oxide • Titanium Dioxide
Water • Glycolic Acid • Coco-Glucoside • Propylene Glycol • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Glycerin • Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate • Sodium Hydroxide • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Phytic Acid • Sodium Chloride • Phenoxyethanol • Dipropylene Glycol • Coconut Acid • Caprylyl Glycol • Salicylic Acid • Chlorphenesin • Ethylhexylglycerin • Boswellia Serrata Gum • Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil • Citral • Citric Acid • Potassium Sorbate • Sodium Benzoate • Tocopherol
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.
Water. 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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterSkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.
Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.
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 a Salicylic Acid into your routine.
In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidSkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 12.
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 16.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidSkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 16.
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 22.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinSkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 17.
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 6.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 18.
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 18.
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 HydroxideSkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 19.
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 8.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
Potassium sorbate is potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
Potassium sorbate is often used with stronger preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 21.
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 23.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 22.
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 12.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser 27 ingredients
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser 25 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser 27 ingredients
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser 25 ingredients
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