Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Stridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive versus Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads .
Last updated on April 01, 2024. Published on October 23, 2022
Overview
What they are
These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and BHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, oils or parabens
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens, fragrances, silicones and sulfates
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
Stridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive 14 ingredients
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads 12 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
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 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
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
Stridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive 14 ingredients
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads 12 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 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:
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This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 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:
Benefits
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:
This product contains 2 ingredients 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 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients 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.
Stridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive 14 ingredients
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads 12 ingredients
Salicylic Acid 0.5% • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate • Ammonium Xylenesulfonate • Citric Acid • DMDM Hydantoin • Parfum • Hamamelis Virginiana Extract • Menthol • Ppg-5-Ceteth-20 • Water • Simethicone • Sodium Borate • Tetrasodium EDTA
Salicylic Acid 2% • Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate • Ammonium Xylenesulfonate • Citric Acid • DMDM Hydantoin • Parfum • Menthol • Ppg-5-Ceteth-20 • Water • Simethicone • Sodium Borate • Tetrasodium EDTA
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.
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 AcidStridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive contains this as ingredient number 1.
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads contains this as ingredient number 1.
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be bad for dry skin and cause irritation.
Stridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive contains this as ingredient number 3.
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads contains this as ingredient number 2.
We don't have a description for Ammonium Xylenesulfonate.
Stridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive contains this as ingredient number 4.
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads contains this as ingredient number 3.
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 AcidStridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive contains this as ingredient number 5.
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads contains this as ingredient number 4.
DMDM Hydantoin has antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It is a preservative that works by slowly releasing formaldehyde over time.
So what's formaldehyde?
DMDM Hydantoin is approved for use in cosmetics all around the world. In the EU, this ingredient is allowed in personal products up to 0.6 percent.
You might have heard of the class-action lawsuit about it causing hair loss. According to chemists, there has not been a link found between this ingredient and hair loss.
The Hydantoin part of this ingredient is created by reacting glycolic acid and urea.
You can check out alternatives to Dmdm Hydantoin: phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate, and sodium benzoate.
Learn more about DMDM HydantoinStridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive contains this as ingredient number 6.
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads contains this as ingredient number 5.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumStridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive contains this as ingredient number 7.
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads contains this as ingredient number 6.
Menthol is a compound found in mint plants, such as peppermint. In its pure form, it is a clear crystalline substance.
Menthol is known for its cooling sensation; however, the cooling is actually from your skin being sensitized. Menthol can worsen rosacea. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Menthol also has antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about MentholStridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive contains this as ingredient number 9.
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads contains this as ingredient number 7.
We don't have a description for Ppg-5-Ceteth-20.
Stridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive contains this as ingredient number 10.
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads contains this as ingredient number 8.
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 WaterStridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive contains this as ingredient number 11.
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads contains this as ingredient number 9.
Simethicone is a silicone. It is an emollient and used to reduce foaming in a product. It is also often used to coat sunscreen ingredients for better spreadability.
This ingredient is created by mixing dimethylpolysiloxane and hydrated silica.
Stridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive contains this as ingredient number 12.
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads contains this as ingredient number 10.
We don't have a description for Sodium Borate.
Stridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive contains this as ingredient number 13.
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads contains this as ingredient number 11.
Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Stridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive contains this as ingredient number 14.
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads contains this as ingredient number 12.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Stridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive 14 ingredients
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads 12 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Stridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive 14 ingredients
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads 12 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Stridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive 14 ingredients
Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads 12 ingredients
I've never had an issue with this product being too harsh.
It's not even that drying (you can sometimes feel like a "film" dry down on your skin if you put on too much, but it's not the skin that's drying out.)
I don't understand...
I've never had an issue with this product being too harsh.
It's not even that drying (you can sometimes feel like a "film" dry down on your skin if you put on too much, but it's not the skin that's drying out.)
I don't understand the hype of PC 2% BHA when stridex is not only
- much cheaper
- much easier to find and get your hands on (it's at every dollar store!)
- comes already on pads for each use
People say it's harsh and drying, but there's no menthol (in the red box version), and there's no alcohol.
And I never feel tingly or burning. Maybe I've just grown a tolerance for it?
Anywho, I use this everyday - and I don't only use it on my face, either.
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 1 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Stridex Medicated Acne Pads - Sensitive.
See 1 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 2 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Stridex Max Strength Acne Pads.
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