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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment versus Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment .

Last updated on October 15, 2023. Published on February 01, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free, fungal acne (malassezia) safe, and reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 15 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA, BHA, ceramides and niacinamide

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, 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.

Facial Treatment Spanish Brand Spain
Facial Treatment Spanish Brand Spain

Facial Treatment

Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.

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

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Buy PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment

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Buy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment

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
Niacinamide
Ceramides

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Good For Oily Skin (3)
Redness Reducing (4)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores (3)
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (4)

Concerns

Drying
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

AHA (2)
BHA
PHA
Vitamin E
Niacinamide
Ceramides

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Good For Oily Skin (3)
Redness Reducing (3)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture (2)
Reduces Large Pores (4)
Anti-Aging (4)
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing (3)
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (6)

Concerns

Drying (2)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (4)
Rosacea (4)
Eczema
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Ingredients Compared

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

Water • Glycerin • Niacinamide • Propanediol • Sodium Acrylates Copolymer • Ectoin • Betaine • Salicylic Acid • Glycolic Acid • Ceramide NP • Punica Granatum Seed Cell Culture Lysate • Sodium Phytate • Lecithin • Mannitol • Maltodextrin • Phosphatidylcholine • Cholesterol • Decyl Glucoside • Sorbic Acid • Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine • Sodium Benzoate • Potassium Sorbate • Xanthan Gum • Sodium Chloride

Water • Niacinamide • Gluconolactone • Mandelic Acid • Carbomer • Mannitol • Glycerin • Salicylic Acid • Glycolic Acid • Ceramide NP • Morinda Citrifolia Callus Culture Lysate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine • Phosphatidylcholine • Cholesterol • Xanthan Gum • Diutan Gum • Tocopherol • Decyl Glucoside • Sodium Chloride • Sodium Hydroxide • Citric Acid • Sodium Benzoate • Potassium Sorbate • Phenoxyethanol

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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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

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 1.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
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

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 2.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 7.

3
What it does: Smoothing
Community Rating: Loved

Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.

It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.

Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.

The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.

Learn more about Niacinamide

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 3.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 2.

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

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 8.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 8.

5
What it does: Buffering
Community Rating: Loved

Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous AHA with research to back up its benefits. Its main role is to peel the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Glycolic Acid has shown to boost collage production, a protein that helps skin stay firm. Overall, Glycolic Acid helps with improving uneven tone, rough patches of skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. It also increases skin hydration by playing a role in creating molecules that create hyaluronic acid naturally.

When applying Glycolic Acid, it is normal to feel slight stinging. The pH value and concentration of glycolic acid play a role in the effectiveness of the product.

Recent studies have shown Glycolic Acid may protect the skin against UV damage. However, you should always wear SPF, especially when using exfoliants.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Glycolic Acid

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 9.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 9.

6
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Ceramide NP is a type of ceramide.

Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.

Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.

If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.

Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP

Learn more about Ceramide NP

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 10.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 10.

7
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Moisturising, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Mannitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a humectant and moisturizes the skin. In vitro (not tested on a living organism), mannitol displays antioxidant properties.

When found in aqueous solutions, mannitol tends to become acidic. This is because it loses a hydrogen ion. This is why mannitol can often be found with pH adjusting ingredients, such as sodium bicarbonate.

Fun fact: Mannitol can be found in foods as a sweetener. It can be naturally found in mushrooms, algae, fruits, and veggies.

Learn more about Mannitol

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 14.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 6.

8
What it does: Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Phosphatidylcholine is a type of phospholipid. Phospholipids are naturally found in our skin as they are the main component of cell membranes. Phospholipids are skin-replenishing.

This ingredient can be found in the Lecithin of soybeans.

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 16.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 14.

9
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Stabilising
Community Rating: Liked

Cholesterol is a class of organic molecules called lipids. It helps hydrate your skin and is essential to having a healthy skin barrier.

Our skin naturally contains cholesterol in the outermost layer. Besides cholesterol, it also contains ceramides and fatty acids. Cholesterol makes up about 1/4 of your skin's outer layer and barrier. Your skin barrier is responsible for keeping allergens and microbes out. Having a healthy skin barrier is also responsible for keeping your skin firm and plump.

Our bodies use cholestrol to create vitamin D, steroid hormones, and more.

Learn more about Cholesterol

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 17.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 15.

10
What it does: Cleansing, Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Mixed

Decyl Glucoside is a glucose-based surfactant. Surfactants help clean the skin by trapping oil, sebum, and dirt to be washed away.

It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.

Decyl Glucoside also helps stabilize the ingredients in a product by preventing them from separating.

This ingredient is biodegradable and non-toxic. This ingredient is commonly found in baby shampoos.

Decyl Glucoside is sometimes used to stabilize the UV filter Tinosorb.

Learn more about Decyl Glucoside

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 18.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 19.

11
What it does: Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine.

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 20.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 13.

12
What it does: Masking, Preservative
Community Rating: Disliked

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Sodium Benzoate

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 21.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 23.

13
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Disliked

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

Potassium sorbate is potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

Potassium sorbate is often used with stronger preservatives.

Learn more about Potassium Sorbate

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 22.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 24.

14
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

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 23.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 16.

15
What it does: Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Chances 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.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride

Transparent Lab PIE Acne Red Spot Fading Treatment contains this as ingredient number 24.

Acnemy Zitpeel AHA + BHA + PHA Overnight Treatment contains this as ingredient number 20.

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

58% are loved or liked
4% have mixed ratings
29% are disliked or very disliked
8% have no rating yet
48% are loved or liked
12% have mixed ratings
28% 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.

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