
“Skin Clearing Anti-Acne Serum”
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
“The exfoliating formula helps remove pore-clogging buildup, control excess oil, + calm inflammation—while supporting smoother, clearer-looking skin over time.”
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: salicylic acid.
This product might help improve the skin tone through exfoliation. In other words, it helps to speed up the shedding of cells from the upper layer of the skin, and this might help reduce hyperpigmentation.
“This lightweight, fast-absorbing anti-acne serum combines breakout-fighting Tea Tree, pore-clearing Salicylic Acid, + skin-renewing Retinol to target acne at the source.”
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, sodium hyaluronate.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
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Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
More about Propylene glycolIncreases thickness of a product. Texture enhancer for oil-in-water emulsions
More about Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymerA preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolUsed to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
More about Salicylic acidOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronateA sugar that is used to stabilize the product formulation. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about DextrinHelps oil and water mix together
More about Peg-40 hydrogenated castor oilUsed to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumAn effective moisturizing and skin barrier repair ingredient. Helps calm down inflammation and has some anti-oxidant properties
More about Avena sativa kernel extractThree steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
More about Retinyl palmitateA plant extract that has been shown to be able to reduce inflammation in skin, support restoration of skin barrier function, as well as support collagen production. Contains active compounds called centelloids: asiaticoside, madecasosside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It can be itself be irritating though.
More about Centella asiatica extractA plant extract that can contain resveratrol, an antioxidant that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. The effectiveness depends on the extract quality and concentration in the product
More about Polygonum cuspidatum root extractA plant extract that might contain a compound baicalin that could be helpful in neutralizing free radicals and reducing inflammation in skin. The baicalin concentration in skincare products is often too low for an effective action. Can be used for its fragrant properties
More about Scutellaria baicalensis root extractCan contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
More about Camellia sinensis leaf extractA plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
More about Glycyrrhiza glabra root extractPlant extract that can have healing and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a potential allergen and can be irritating
More about Chamomilla recutita flower extractCan be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating
More about Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extractAn essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties
More about Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oilThe most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of aging
More about Ascorbic acidPure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolPropanediol, Glycerin, Propylene glycol, Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Salicylic acid, Sodium hyaluronate, Polysorbate 80, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, Xanthan gum, 1,2-hexanediol, Avena sativa kernel extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Retinyl palmitate, Centella asiatica extract, Polygonum cuspidatum root extract, Scutellaria baicalensis root extract, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract, Chamomilla recutita flower extract, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, Quaternium-73, Ascorbic acid, Tocopherol
Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| AOASkin Clearing Anti-Acne SerumYOUR PRODUCT | skinmadeAzelaic Acid + Salicylic Acid serum | Dollar Shave ClubRescue Serum | FacetheoryPolyPep Collagen Boosting Serum S8 with ChroNOline Tetrapeptide, Polyhydroxy Acids and Centella Asiatica | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 92% | 91% | 91% |
| Price | — | — | $10.00 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 5 of 6 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Niacinamide | Glycolic Acid | Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3 |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Anua Azelaic Acid 15+ Intense Calming SerumAllies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum
"AOA - Skin Clearing Anti-Acne Serum" is effective for: Anti-blemish and Exfoliation
This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 30 studies and safety reviews.
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