THE LAB by blanc doux Green Flavonoid Pore Gel Cleanser Versus Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingLauryl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingCoconut Acid
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCitrus Tangerina Peel Extract
AstringentGlucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSodium Isethionate
CleansingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyquaternium-10
Acrylates Copolymer
Tromethamine
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauryl Betaine, Glycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Coconut Acid, Sodium Chloride, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Isethionate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-10, Acrylates Copolymer, Tromethamine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA
Houttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingHectorite
AbsorbentSodium Chloride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine Salicylate
AntimicrobialPotassium Benzoate
PreservativeHouttuynia Cordata Powder
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-67
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetate
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantQuercetin
AntioxidantHouttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Water, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine Salicylate, Potassium Benzoate, Houttuynia Cordata Powder, Polyquaternium-67, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Disodium EDTA, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Quercetin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid comes from salicylic acid, the famous acne-fighting BHA.
It usually goes by a more common name of LHA, or lipohydroxy acid.
Like salicylic acid, this ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that can help break down the oil in your pores and reduce inflammation.
Though studies for LHA do show it to be less effective than salicylic acid. To be fair, salicylic acid is the reigning monarch of acne treatments.
However, a study from 2009 found LHA to be comparable to BPO, making it a good alternative for people with sensitive skin. Another study of 14 patients found a significant decrease in comedones after using LHA.
Another pro of LHA? It is less irritating than salicylic acid due to its large molecule size.
Large molecules cannot penetrate skin as well, so they are gentler on the skin. LHA is much less penetrative than salicylic acid.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found only 6% of LHA penetrated past the statum corneum compared to 58% of salicylic acid. An in-vivo (done on a living organism) analysis revealed ~17% of LHA was still present in the top layer of skin after 4 days, versus ~9% of salicylic acid.
Interestingly, a study from 2008 found LHA comparable to another famous acid, glycolic acid.
This study found about 10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and fine-lines.
Hydroxy acids have been found to stimulate skin protein, lipids, and thermal thickening. This may have anti-aging benefits.
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic AcidCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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