Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque versus Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel .
Last updated on October 09, 2023. Published on December 10, 2023
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and BHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils or sulfates
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
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.
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
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque 19 ingredients
Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel 47 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is 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:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Contains Parabens
Ingredients in this product that are types of parabens:
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of 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
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque 19 ingredients
Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel 47 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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 1 ingredient 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:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
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 3 ingredients 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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Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque 19 ingredients
Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel 47 ingredients
Water • Kaolin • Squalane • Glycerin • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Silica Cetyl Silylate • Salicylic Acid • Sodium Polyacrylate • Pentylene Glycol • Charcoal Powder • 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol • Sclerotium Gum • Acacia Senegal Gum • Xanthan Gum • Phytic Acid • Polysorbate 20 • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Chlorphenesin • Phenoxyethanol
Water • Ethylhexyl Palmitate • Stearyl Alcohol • Glycerin • Salicylic Acid • Triethanolamine • Cyclopentasiloxane • Polysorbate 85 • Propylene Glycol • Glyceryl Stearate • Dimethicone • Butyl Avocadate • Ethylene Oxide • Retinyl Palmitate • Steareth-3 • Peg-100 Stearate • Polyacrylate-13 • Sucrose Distearate • Cetearyl Alcohol • Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Sucrose Stearate • Polyisobutene • Arctium Lappa Root Extract • Citric Acid • Disodium EDTA • Titanium Dioxide • Methyldihydrojasmonate • C12-14 Pareth-12 • Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract • Polysorbate 20 • Cyclohexasiloxane • Ethylene Brassylate • Ethyl Linalool • Phenoxyethanol • Butylene Glycol • Isobutyl Methyl Tetrahydropyranol • Methylenedioxyphenyl Methylpropanal • Methylparaben • Cystoseira Amentacea/Caespitosa Branchycarpa Extract • Chlorphenesin • Gamma-Undecalactone • Benzoic Acid • Cyclamen Aldehyde • Sodium Metabisulfite • CI 19140 • CI 17200 • CI 42090
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.
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 WaterThe Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque contains this as ingredient number 1.
Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 GlycerinThe Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque contains this as ingredient number 4.
Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel contains this as ingredient number 4.
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 AcidThe Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque contains this as ingredient number 7.
Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel contains this as ingredient number 5.
Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque contains this as ingredient number 16.
Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel contains this as ingredient number 30.
Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinThe Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque contains this as ingredient number 18.
Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel contains this as ingredient number 40.
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.
Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel contains this as ingredient number 34.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque 19 ingredients
Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel 47 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque 19 ingredients
Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel 47 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque 19 ingredients
antimonious
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.
Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel 47 ingredients
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