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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque versus Garnier Pure Active Intensive 3 in 1 Charcoal Blackhead Mask Wash Scrub .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on August 04, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain BHA and exfoliants

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin and oily skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens or silicones

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Wash Off Mask Canadian Brand Canada
Face Cleanser French Brand France

Wash Off Mask

Wash off masks are used to treat skin concerns: large pores, dryness, dullness, acne, and much more. They are applied preferably after cleansing (depending on the product’s instructions) and usually have to be removed within a specific time period.

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Price

Shop

Buy Salicylic Acid 2% Masque

Starts at $11.98
Shop

Buy Pure Active Intensive 3 in 1 Charcoal Blackhead Mask Wash Scrub

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

AHA
BHA
Exfoliators (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Good For Oily Skin (2)
Reduces Large Pores
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
Irritating
Rosacea (2)
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

BHA
Exfoliators (4)

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque contains this as ingredient number 1.

Garnier Pure Active Intensive 3 in 1 Charcoal Blackhead Mask Wash Scrub contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Abrasive, Absorbent, Cosmetic Colorant
Community Rating: Liked

Kaolin is a clay. It is used for oil control and to help minimize pores. Like other clays, kaolin has the ability to absorb excess sebum or oil. This can help clean out pores and mattify the skin.

Some types of kaolin may have exfoliating properties. When water is added to kaolin, it becomes a paste with small abrasive particles.

Most kaolin is a white color, but may be pink/orange/red depending on where it comes from.

The name 'kaolin' comes from a Chinese village named 'Gaoling'. Kaolin clay comes from rocks rich in kaolinite. Kaolinite, the mineral, has a silicate layered structure. Kaolinite is formed from chemical weathering of aluminum siilicate minerals.

Besides skincare, kaolin is commonly used to make glossy paper, in ceramics, toothpaste, and as medicine to soothe stomach issues.

Learn more about Kaolin

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque contains this as ingredient number 2.

Garnier Pure Active Intensive 3 in 1 Charcoal Blackhead Mask Wash Scrub contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque contains this as ingredient number 4.

Garnier Pure Active Intensive 3 in 1 Charcoal Blackhead Mask Wash Scrub contains this as ingredient number 3.

4
What it does: Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

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 Acid

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque contains this as ingredient number 7.

Garnier Pure Active Intensive 3 in 1 Charcoal Blackhead Mask Wash Scrub contains this as ingredient number 24.

5
What it does: Abrasive, Absorbent
Community Rating: Mixed

Charcoal Powder is an exfoliant.

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque contains this as ingredient number 10.

Garnier Pure Active Intensive 3 in 1 Charcoal Blackhead Mask Wash Scrub contains this as ingredient number 15.

6
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque contains this as ingredient number 14.

Garnier Pure Active Intensive 3 in 1 Charcoal Blackhead Mask Wash Scrub contains this as ingredient number 18.

7
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque contains this as ingredient number 19.

Garnier Pure Active Intensive 3 in 1 Charcoal Blackhead Mask Wash Scrub contains this as ingredient number 25.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

37% are loved or liked
21% have mixed ratings
37% are disliked or very disliked
5% have no rating yet
31% are loved or liked
15% have mixed ratings
42% are disliked or very disliked
12% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque 19 ingredients

3.6 /5
from 7 ratings
CustardBunny's avatar

CustardBunny

7 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

Waay too harsh for my skin, doesnt do much..
But feels fun in the moment

antimonious's avatar

antimonious

11 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

The only mask good for my skin
DISCLAIMER: Every skin is different, explore products carefully, mindfully, and have fun :) | (Skin profile:...

The only mask good for my skin
DISCLAIMER: Every skin is different, explore products carefully, mindfully, and have fun :) | (Skin profile: combination, slightly sensitive, textured, oily T-zone, enlarged pores) | For years I've struggled with top-layer exfoliation because any product I'd use would leave my skin red, irritated, and looking like tight plastic foil. I tried dozens of wet masks, sheet masks, acid peels, with a variety of acids (salicylic, glycolic, you name it - I've tried it), and none worked well. This wet mask is a game-changer. Twice a week, I apply it in the evening, after cleansing, a generous amount I'd say, but not too much, "about half a teaspoon is enough for the face and neck" the packaging says. Usually I leave it on for 7-8 minutes, a bit less than the 10 minutes the packaging puts as the maximum, gently rinse it off with warm water, pat my face dry with a soft towel, and my skin looks just fine. I haven't ever had any redness after using it, my skin wasn't feeling tight, and it even still had a natural glow to it (which hasn't ever happened because other masks would dry my skin out completely). This product deserves way more than just 5 stars.

Garnier Pure Active Intensive 3 in 1 Charcoal Blackhead Mask Wash Scrub 26 ingredients

1.3 /5
from 3 ratings
JuliaTrancoso_671's avatar

JuliaTrancoso_671

2 years ago · Combination Skin
Review

Never again.
Besides the very strong smell, it left my skin (combination) extremely irritated.

silverconcept's avatar

silverconcept

6 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

absolutely not
Dried my skin and caused breakouts. So much happier after switching.

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