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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 The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) Serum .

Last updated on May 03, 2024. Published on January 06, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe . They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain 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, parabens, silicones or sulfates

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
Serum British Brand United Kingdom

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.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Salicylic Acid 2% Masque

Starts at $11.98
Shop

Buy Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) Serum

Starts at $10.00

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
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

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

Concerns

Drying
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema
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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.

The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
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.

The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

3
What it does:
Community Rating: Liked

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque contains this as ingredient number 17.

The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

4
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.

The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

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
69% are loved or liked
23% have mixed ratings
8% are disliked or very disliked
0% 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.

The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) Serum 13 ingredients

4.2 /5
from 5 ratings
CentellaAddict's avatar

CentellaAddict

8 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

Very good for acne
Saw an immediate overnight change in my inflammation overnight after using for the first time, haven't had any inflammatory...

Very good for acne
Saw an immediate overnight change in my inflammation overnight after using for the first time, haven't had any inflammatory whiteheads since I finished purging (which lasted 2 weeks) and my skin is slightly less oily. However it did nothing really for my sebaceous filaments.

bloss's avatar

bloss

10 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

It’s like the only product that actually seemed to do anything.

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