Soul Apothecary Detox Green Tea & Salicylic Acid Toner Versus Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum
This acne toner is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and refine the look of pores.
This acne serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and refine the look of pores.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PPG-14 Butyl Ether
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Salicylic Acid, Cyclomethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Panthenol, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethiconol, PEG-40 Stearate, Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingMethylpropanediol
SolventEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract
MaskingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Menthol
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Royal Jelly Protein
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Sucrose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salicylic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Methylpropanediol, Ectoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Centella Asiatica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Tartaric Acid, Malic Acid, Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Allantoin, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Menthol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Royal Jelly Protein, Oligopeptide-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolipids, Glycosphingolipids, Propanediol, Sodium Lactate, Glycolic Acid, Sucrose, Urea, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSalicylic 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
