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Garnier Pure Active Sensitive Anti Blemish Soap Free Face Wash
Garnier

Garnier Pure Active Sensitive Anti Blemish Soap Free Face Wash

Efficacy62/100IrritancyHigh
See all ingredients

Works for

Cleansing
Sodium laureth sulfate, Coco-betaine + 2 more
Can be harsh
What the product description says
“Pure Active Sensitive Anti Blemish Soap Free Face Wash”
From product name

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin.

It contains the following cleansing agents that tend to be harsh on the skin: sodium laureth sulfate.

The following cleansing agents are typically mild, but still can cause an irritation or allergy for some people coco-betaine.

Keep in mind that cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.

Sodium laureth sulfateEffect: HighWorks as a foaming cleansing agent~11–14%
Coco-betaineEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Can be allergenic~4.2–5.1%
Hexylene glycolEffect: HighHelps create a more spreadable product texture~0.75–1.15%
Peg-120 methyl glucose dioleateEffect: High~0.55–0.8%
Anti-blemish
Zinc pca, Salix alba bark extract + 1 more
Not delivered
What the product description says
“Pure Active Sensitive Anti Blemish Soap Free Face Wash”
From product name

This product contains ingredients (zinc pca) that could help reduce blemishes and clogged pores in theory, but there is not enough evidence that they actually work.

Zinc pcaEffect: MediumA compound that combines zinc with a hydrating ingredient PCA. Might to be helpful against acne and clogged pores. Can help calm down inflammation in skin. Could be helpful in reducing the formation of free radicals in skin. Might help to reduce fine lines in wrinkles, but solid evidence is missing~0.1–0.2%
Salix alba bark extractEffect: Low, below effective doseA plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It contains a compound salicin that can theoretically be converted into salicylic acid that, in turn, helps reduce inflammation in skin, but the evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking and the extract is usually not used in a concentration that would enable an exfoliating effect~0.25–0.5%
Salicylic acidUnder-dosedUsed 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)~0.25–0.45%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
3 strong irritants: Alcohol, Hamamelis virginiana water + 1 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 11 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Sodium laureth sulfateWorks as a foaming cleansing agentHigh~11–14%est.
Coco-betaineHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Can be allergenicHigh~4.2–5.1%est.
AlcoholCan be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial propertiesHigh~1.7–2.1%est.
Hamamelis virginiana waterA plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritatingHigh~0.95–1.2%est.
Salicylic acidUsed 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)High~0.25–0.45%est.
Salix alba bark extractA plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It contains a compound salicin that can theoretically be converted into salicylic acid that, in turn, helps reduce inflammation in skin, but the evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking and the extract is usually not used in a concentration that would enable an exfoliating effectHigh~0.25–0.5%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.01–0.05%est.
Peg-8Used to create a nice product consistencyMedium~4–4.9%est.
Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~1.5–1.9%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~1.2–1.5%est.
Hexylene glycolHelps create a more spreadable product textureMedium~0.75–1.15%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Sodium laureth sulfateWorks as a foaming cleansing agent2/5~11–14%est.
Alternatives
Cheaper, or higher on efficacy
Anti-Imperfection Comfort Cleanser
Mixa Anti-Imperfection Comfort Cleanser
Higher efficacy · 87/10090% match
$7.16
Normaderm Intensive Purifying Cleansing Gel
Vichy Normaderm Intensive Purifying Cleansing Gel
Higher efficacy · 100/10089% match
$13.11
View all alternatives

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~45–55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Sodium laureth sulfate~11–14%
Comedogenic 2/5Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
Cleansing

Works as a foaming cleansing agent

More about Sodium laureth sulfate
Peg-8~4–4.9%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product consistency

More about Peg-8
Coco-betaine~4.2–5.1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Can be allergenic

More about Coco-betaine
Sodium chloride~2.1–2.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures

More about Sodium chloride
Alcohol~1.7–2.1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Antibacterial

Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties

More about Alcohol
Caprylyl glycol~1.5–1.9%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol
Citric acid~1.2–1.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH

More about Citric acid
Hamamelis virginiana water~0.95–1.2%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-inflammatory

A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating

More about Hamamelis virginiana water
Hexylene glycol~0.75–1.15%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps create a more spreadable product texture

More about Hexylene glycol
Maltodextrin~0.65–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Mattifying

Used to stabilize the product formulation and can help absorb oil

More about Maltodextrin
Peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate~0.55–0.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate
Phenoxyethanol~0.35–0.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Salicylic acid~0.25–0.45%
Under-dosedIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-blemishAnti-inflammatoryExfoliationAntibacterialEvens 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)

More about Salicylic acid
Salix alba bark extract~0.25–0.5%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-oxidationAnti-inflammatoryAnti-blemishExfoliation

A plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It contains a compound salicin that can theoretically be converted into salicylic acid that, in turn, helps reduce inflammation in skin, but the evidence of effectiveness in skin is lacking and the extract is usually not used in a concentration that would enable an exfoliating effect

More about Salix alba bark extract
Salix alba extract~0.2–0.35%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Salix alba extract
Sodium benzoate~0.1–0.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative

More about Sodium benzoate
Sodium hydroxide~0.1–0.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to adjust the product's pH

More about Sodium hydroxide
Zinc pca~0.1–0.2%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-inflammatoryMoisturizingAnti-blemishAnti-oxidationAnti-aging

A compound that combines zinc with a hydrating ingredient PCA. Might to be helpful against acne and clogged pores. Can help calm down inflammation in skin. Could be helpful in reducing the formation of free radicals in skin. Might help to reduce fine lines in wrinkles, but solid evidence is missing

More about Zinc pca
Parfum~0.01–0.05%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
(f.i.l b195221/1)
Not recognized
Ingredient list view

Water, Sodium laureth sulfate, Peg-8, Coco-betaine, Sodium chloride, Alcohol, Caprylyl glycol, Citric acid, Hamamelis virginiana water, Hexylene glycol, Maltodextrin, Peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate, Phenoxyethanol, Salicylic acid, Salix alba bark extract, Salix alba extract, Sodium benzoate, Sodium hydroxide, Zinc pca, Parfum, Unknown

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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.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
GarnierPure Active Sensitive Anti Blemish Soap Free Face WashYOUR PRODUCTMixaAnti-Imperfection Comfort CleanserVichyNormaderm Intensive Purifying Cleansing GelL'Oréal ParisL'Oreal Men Expert Hydra Sensitive 3-in-1 Shower Gel
Match—90%89%85%
Price—$7.16$13.11$4.01
Shared key ingredients—3 of 63 of 63 of 6
Key difference—NiacinamideBifida Ferment LysateGlycerin
Irritancy High Low Medium High
Drying alcohol Contains drying alcohol ———
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 9 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Beta Hydroxy Acidsfda.gov
  4. 4
    A review of toxicity from topical salicylic acid preparationssciencedirect.com
  5. 5
    Glycolic Acid Peels Versus Salicylic–Mandelic Acid Peels in Active Acne Vulgaris and Post‐Acne Scarring and Hyperpigmentation: A Comparative Studyonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  6. 6
    Efficacy and Safety of White Willow Bark (Salix alba) Extractonlinelibrary.wiley.com
Garnier Pure Active Sensitive Anti Blemish Soap Free Face Wash
GarnierPure Active Sensitive Anti Blemish Soap Free Face Wash
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