Works for
ExfoliationSalicylic acidWorks well
“Gently exfoliates”
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.
CleansingDecyl glucoside, Sodium myristoyl sarcosinate + 8 moreCleanses gently
“Meltdown Gel Cleanser”
This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (caprylyl/capryl glucoside, carbomer, cholesterol, cocamidopropyl betaine, decyl glucoside, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium lauroyl lactylate, sodium myristoyl sarcosinate, xanthan gum) and should be able to cleanse the skin gently. Still keep in mind that any cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.
Even though this formulation is mild, the following cleansing agents could trigger an irritation or allergy for some people: cocamidopropyl betaine, decyl glucoside
Anti-blemishSalicylic acid, Camellia sinensis leaf extract + 1 moreWorks well
“Doesn’t dry out, irritate skin, or clog pores”
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.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Foeniculum vulgare oil, Citrus limon peel oil + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
Be the first — your take helps the next person decide.
Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Decyl glucoside~8.3–10.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating
More about Decyl glucosideGlycerin~4.2–5.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One 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 GlycerinSodium myristoyl sarcosinate~4.3–5.3%
Sodium cocoyl isethionate~2.5–3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil mix together. Can be used as a cleansing agent
More about Sodium cocoyl isethionateHydroxypropyl methylcellulose~1.9–2.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the formulation
More about Hydroxypropyl methylcelluloseCocamidopropyl betaine~2.1–2.6%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen
More about Cocamidopropyl betaineCaprylyl/capryl glucoside~1.5–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be used as a cleansing agent
More about Caprylyl/capryl glucosideLauryl lactate~1.2–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Oryza sativa extract~0.95–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A grain extract that helps to create a thicker product consistency. It might have some anti-oxidant properties and help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Oryza sativa extractPropanediol~0.65–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolSaccharomyces ferment lysate filtrate~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Saccharomyces ferment lysate filtrateSalicylic acid~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used 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 acidNigella sativa seed oil~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and support the skin's barrier due to the high content of linoleic acid
More about Nigella sativa seed oilCaprylyl glycol~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolCamellia sinensis leaf extract~0.4–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can 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 extractGlycyrrhiza glabra root extract~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
More about Glycyrrhiza glabra root extractCitric acid~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
More about Citric acidTetrasodium glutamate diacetate~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps stabilize the product formulation
More about Tetrasodium glutamate diacetateCaprylhydroxamic acid~0.3–0.5%
Piper nigrum seed oil~0.3–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Boswellia serrata oil~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Foeniculum vulgare oil~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- High
Citrus limon peel oil~0.2–0.4%
Vaccinium angustifolium fruit extract~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract tha can have anti-oxidant properties, but evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking
More about Vaccinium angustifolium fruit extractPinus sylvestris oil~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Daucus carota sativa seed oil~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A plant oil that might help neutralize free radicals and have an anti-bacterial effect
More about Daucus carota sativa seed oilCeramide np~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin
More about Ceramide npCeramide ap~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin
More about Ceramide apCeramide eop~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin
More about Ceramide eopPhytosphingosine~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of lipid that is naturally present in skin. It might help in repairing skin barrier function and has anti-bacterial effect
More about PhytosphingosineCholesterol~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that is naturally found in skin
More about CholesterolSodium lauroyl lactylate~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil mix together
More about Sodium lauroyl lactylateSodium hyaluronate~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronateChlorophyllin-copper complex~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Carbomer~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations
More about CarbomerXanthan gum~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumSpirulina platensis extract~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An algae extract. Might help to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and have an anti-oxidant effect
More about Spirulina platensis extractCi 42090~0.05–0.1%
Tanacetum annuum flower oil~0.05%
- Irritation risk
- High
An essential oil that has anti-inflammatory properties but also contains irritating compounds
More about Tanacetum annuum flower oilIngredient list view
Water, Decyl glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium myristoyl sarcosinate, Sodium cocoyl isethionate, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Caprylyl/capryl glucoside, Lauryl lactate, Oryza sativa extract, Propanediol, Saccharomyces ferment lysate filtrate, Salicylic acid, Nigella sativa seed oil, Caprylyl glycol, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract, Citric acid, Tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, Caprylhydroxamic acid, Piper nigrum seed oil, Boswellia serrata oil, Foeniculum vulgare oil, Citrus limon peel oil, Vaccinium angustifolium fruit extract, Pinus sylvestris oil, Daucus carota sativa seed oil, Ceramide np, Ceramide ap, Ceramide eop, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium lauroyl lactylate, Sodium hyaluronate, Chlorophyllin-copper complex, Carbomer, Xanthan gum, Spirulina platensis extract, Ci 42090, Tanacetum annuum flower oil
Compare prices
Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.
Worth comparing, line by line.
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.
| BlumeMeltdown Gel CleanserYOUR PRODUCT | AcneFree Dermatology Inspired CareBlackhead Removing Scrub With Charcoal | CeraVeGel Moussant Anti-Imperfections | Face factsCeramide Blemish Foaming Cleanser | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 90% | 87% | 86% |
| Price | $32.00 | — | — | $7.82−$24.18 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 10 of 20 | 11 of 20 | 8 of 20 |
| Key difference | — | Glycolic Acid | Niacinamide | Niacinamide |
| Irritancy | High | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Veea Face by Dr. Suzan Obagi Clarifying Gel CleanserSkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 17 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Sodium Cocoyl Isethionatejournals.sagepub.com
- 4
- 5
- 6Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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