Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Exfoliating Toner Versus Be The Skin BHA+ Pore Zero Cleansing Foam
This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Niacinamide and Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water to refine skin texture and clear breakouts.
This salicylic acid foaming 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 ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSwiftlet Nest Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Fructan
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Glycol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRaspberry Ketone
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fructan, Allantoin, Adenosine, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Xylitol, Salicylic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Mentha Piperita Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingTea-Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Water
Astringent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-7
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tromethamine
BufferingGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMethylpropanediol
SolventPrunus Davidiana Extract
Antioxidant
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSilkworm Cocoon Extract
HumectantSodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycol Distearate, Potassium Hydroxide, Tea-Lauryl Sulfate, Stearic Acid, Lauryl Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Lauric Acid, Beeswax, Lauryl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Salix Alba Bark Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-7, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid, Tromethamine, Glycolipids, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Methylpropanediol, Prunus Davidiana Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Silkworm Cocoon Extract, Sodium Bisulfite, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
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
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCarica Papaya Fruit Extract comes from the flesh of the papaya. It's a skin conditioning agent that carries a mix of bioactives like papain, beta-carotene, and vitamin C.
These bioactive compounds give it two main talking points:
1. Papain is a proteolytic enzyme that provides mild exfoliation, helping skin look smoother and more even.
2. The carotenoids and vitamin C provide some antioxidant activity.
It's pretty compatible with most ingredients, but just sure to space out enzyme products with strong acids/retinoids to avoid over-doing it.
Maximum reported concentration is around 0.1% and most leave-on products use just 0.05%. If you see higher figures like 5-10%, this is usually the pre-diluted material from raw extract suppliers.
This ingredient has an assuring safety record and there's a lack of clinical case reports of dermatitis from using it.
The only caveat is allergy: patch test if you have a papaya or latex-fruit allergy.
Learn more about Carica Papaya Fruit ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinSalicylic 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
