Works for
Anti-blemishSalicylic acid, Aloe barbadensis leaf juiceWorks well
“Acne Spot Treatment”
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.
ExfoliationSide benefit · Salicylic acidWorks well
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.
MoisturizingSide benefit · Lactobacillus ferment, Glycerin + 9 moreWorks
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
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. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
glycerin, lactobacillus ferment.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: glycine soja oil, dicaprylyl ether.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: Artemisia vulgaris extractMedium risk
Comedogenic3 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale3 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Salicylic acid~1.25–2.5%
- 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 acidPropanediol~3.3–5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolLactobacillus ferment~2.6–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A fermentation product created by bacteria Lactobacillus. The fermented product has anti-bacterial properties and might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but studies are lacking. Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Can be used as a preservative
More about Lactobacillus fermentPentylene glycol~2.1–3.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
More about Pentylene glycolPolyacrylate crosspolymer-6~1.6–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Octyldodecanol~1.3–2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps to soften the skin and create a pleasant product texture and stabilize the formulation
More about OctyldodecanolGlycerin~1.3–1.9%
- 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 GlycerinHexanediol~0.95–1.45%
Glycine soja oil~0.85–1.25%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
More about Glycine soja oilLaminaria digitata extract~0.5–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Seaweed extract that helps the skin to attract water and make it more smooth for touch. Also shows promise of anti-aging properties, but good research is lacking at the moment
More about Laminaria digitata extractSodium hydroxide~0.45–1%
Artemisia vulgaris extract~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might have some anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. It can be irritating
More about Artemisia vulgaris extractHydroxyacetophenone~0.35–0.85%
Sea water~0.35–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Dissolves other ingredients. It does not have additional skin benefits compared to plain water
More about Sea waterTetrasodium glutamate diacetate~0.35–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps stabilize the product formulation
More about Tetrasodium glutamate diacetateLeptospermum scoparium branch/leaf oil~0.3–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Magnolia officinalis bark extract~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Piper nigrum seed extract~0.15–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Chlorella vulgaris extract~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
A plant extract that can help to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
More about Chlorella vulgaris extractDicaprylyl ether~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin while creating a non-greasy feel on the skin. Helps to dissolve other ingredients
More about Dicaprylyl etherPhragmites karka extract~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Poria cocos extract~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Lauryl alcohol~0.1–0.45%
Magnolia grandiflora bark extract~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Saccharide isomerate~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Saccharide isomerateAloe barbadensis leaf juice~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
More about Aloe barbadensis leaf juiceHelichrysum italicum extract~0.01–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract used to conceal the smell of other ingredients in a product. Has anti-microbial properties. Can be irritating
More about Helichrysum italicum extractAvena sativa kernel extract~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An effective moisturizing and skin barrier repair ingredient. Helps calm down inflammation and has some anti-oxidant properties
More about Avena sativa kernel extractIngredient list view
Water, Salicylic acid, Propanediol, Lactobacillus ferment, Pentylene glycol, Polyacrylate crosspolymer-6, Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Hexanediol, Glycine soja oil, Laminaria digitata extract, Sodium hydroxide, Artemisia vulgaris extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sea water, Tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, Leptospermum scoparium branch/leaf oil, Magnolia officinalis bark extract, Piper nigrum seed extract, Chlorella vulgaris extract, Dicaprylyl ether, Phragmites karka extract, Poria cocos extract, Lauryl alcohol, Magnolia grandiflora bark extract, Saccharide isomerate, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Helichrysum italicum extract, Avena sativa kernel extract
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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.
| DIMEAcne Spot TreatmentYOUR PRODUCT | Transparent LabsPIH SUN SPOT FADING TREATMENT | skincode-SwissClarifying Spot Treatment | SkinfixAcne+ 2% BHA Spot Treatment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 86% | 84% | 82% |
| Price | $24.00 | $18.74−$5.26 | $58.44+$34.44 | $30.00+$6.00 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 2 of 5 | 2 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Key difference | — | Niacinamide | Niacinamide | Azelaic Acid |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: REVOLUTION SKINCARE Anytime Anywhere 1% Salicylic Acid Blemish Touch Up StickKiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 8 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2Beta Hydroxy Acidsfda.gov
- 3A review of toxicity from topical salicylic acid preparationssciencedirect.com
- 4
- 5
- 6
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