The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Versus The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
Updated on March 04, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 3 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG 25 ingredients
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution 11 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG 25 ingredients
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution 11 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Gallyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Oxidized Glutathione
EmollientMelanin
Skin ProtectingGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Caffeine, Maltodextrin, Glycerin, Propanediol, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Oxidized Glutathione, Melanin, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Propyl Gallate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Benzyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG 25 ingredients
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution 11 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG 25 ingredients
♡︎
－ 𝗐𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗉𝗎𝗋𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗌𝖾, 𝗀𝗈𝗍 𝗍𝗐𝗈 𝗂𝗇 𝖺 𝗉𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝗌𝗈 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆 𝗎𝗉
－ 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖽𝗈𝖾𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄 𝖺𝗍 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗂'𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗅𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝗒𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝖺𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗍 𝖽𝗈𝖾𝗌
－ 𝗂 𝖽𝗈 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗅𝗒 𝗂𝗍 𝗈𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗇 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗌𝗈 𝗂 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅 𝖿𝖺𝗇𝖼𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗌𝗁 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗆𝗒 𝖻𝗈𝗍𝗍𝗅𝖾𝗌
－ 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝗇'𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖾𝗇𝖽
A mistake a lot of people make is that they think this eye serum is made for the long term. It's not, it's a great depuff serum in the morning. So if you're prone to puffiness, then this is a great first step in your routine to depuff your eyebags before applying a more rich eye cream.
I hate the fact that the bottle gets a bit dirty because of the crystalization of the caffeine, but that's Show more
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution 11 ingredients
The BHA didnt remove my acne, the clogged pores, and the sebaceous filaments. I've been using it for 4 months, and my acne condition is still the same.
foams up unless I tap it on my face, it works well enough but i think there are better bha products out there.
