PRODUCT REVIEW
Facetheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 with 2% Salicylic Acid and Green Tea Extract Unscented
Can it cause trouble?
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Product summary
What can the product work for?
Works for
Does not work for
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
salicylic acid
1% -
1.5%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: 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)
camellia sinensis leaf extract
0.05% -
0.2%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
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
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Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
salicylic acid
1% -
1.5%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: 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)
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
sodium hyaluronate
0.05% -
0.25%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
glycerin
1.4% -
2.2%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
polyglyceryl-6 stearate
2.1% -
3.2%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
MEDIUM
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
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Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
camellia sinensis leaf extract
0.05% -
0.2%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
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
tocopherol
0.95% -
1.4%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
Pure 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
aloe barbadensis leaf juice
0.05% -
0.1%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
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
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
salicylic acid
1% -
1.5%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
LOW
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)
camellia sinensis leaf extract
0.05% -
0.2%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
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
Anti-oxidation
tocopherol
0.95% -
1.4%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
Pure 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
camellia sinensis leaf extract
0.05% -
0.2%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
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
Honesty check
How honest is this product?
Promise | Can it deliver? |
---|---|
Exfoliation | |
Anti-blemish | |
Moisturizing | |
Evens skin tone | |
Anti-aging |
Total Promises Fulfilled score:
65/100.
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Can it cause trouble?
- Overall product irritation risk
- Acne & comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Potential irritants
salicylic acid
1% -
1.5%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Exfoliation,
Anti-inflammatory,
Anti-blemish,
Antibacterial,
Evens skin tone
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)
Show more
Comodogenic ingredients
No comodogenic ingredients detected
User reviews (0)
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WIMJ similarity score |
82%
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92%
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91%
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91%
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90%
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90%
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89%
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89%
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88%
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88%
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88%
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Key ingredients |
| Common: Other:
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Irritancy | IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
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LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
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MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
LOW
| IRRITANCY
LOW
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Potential Irritants |
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Ingredients & concentrations
All ingredients
Key Actives
salicylic acid
1% -
1.5%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Exfoliation,
Anti-inflammatory,
Anti-blemish,
Antibacterial,
Evens skin tone
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)
Show more
Potential irritants
salicylic acid
1% -
1.5%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Exfoliation,
Anti-inflammatory,
Anti-blemish,
Antibacterial,
Evens skin tone
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)
Show more
Comodogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comodogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
propanediol
4.5% -
6.8%
Irritation risk:
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
butyloctyl salicylate
3.6% -
5.4%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Sun protection
A synthetic ester of salicylic acid that is used to help disperse pigments and boost effectiveness of sunscreen ingredients. It is able to absorb UV light (working as an organic, or chemical filter), but is not approved as a sunscreen ingredient on its own
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Ingredient list view
Water, Propanediol, Butyloctyl salicylate, Carnitine, Polyglyceryl-6 stearate, Salicylic acid, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 oleate, Tocopherol, Cetyl hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl caprylate, Sodium anisate, Sodium levulinate, Polyglyceryl-6 behenate, Xanthan gum, Chamomilla recutita flower extract, Sodium hyaluronate, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice
Sources
- Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicylate, Isocetyl Salicylate, Isodecyl Salicylate, Magnesium Salicylate, MEA-Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Potassium Salicylate, Methyl Salicylate, Myristyl Salicylate, Sodium Salicylate, TEA-Salicylate, and Tridecyl Salicylate
- Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review
- Beta Hydroxy Acids
- A review of toxicity from topical salicylic acid preparations
- Glycolic Acid Peels Versus Salicylic–Mandelic Acid Peels in Active Acne Vulgaris and Post‐Acne Scarring and Hyperpigmentation: A Comparative Study