Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-blemish
- Exfoliation
- Moisturizing
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: high
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 1
Key actives
Product Summary
"Mario Badescu - The Icons" is effective for: Exfoliation and Anti-blemish
This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- Salicylic acid (1.10% - 1.60%). This is an oil-soluble exfoliating acid. Because of this property, it can work inside pores and help reduce the congestion. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and is used to treat acne. Because it is a quite strong exfoliator, be careful with using this product too often: it could result in over-exfoliation.
- Humectants (glycerin 1.50% - 2.30%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "Mario Badescu" is cruelty free and so is its parent company.
Works for
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
Pores, Dryness, and Acne and Blemishes Ingredient Callouts.
Source: Sephora
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid, sulfur. These ingredients is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
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)
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
Exfoliation
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.
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
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, caprylyl glycol.
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).
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
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
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Anti-blemish |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 100/100.
Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
User reviews (0)
Averages from community submissions.
No reviews yet for this product.
Be the first to share your experience!
Tried this product?
Help capture what the ingredient list can't—texture, finish, pilling, scent, and more. Answer what you can, skip the rest.
Takes ~30 seconds.
Reviews are shown in aggregate. No personal details.
| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Mario Badescu The Icons | Current | - | |
 Kate Somerville EradiKate Blemish Treatment | 86% | $24.00 | |
 Lancer Skincare Lancer Clarifying Spot Solution with 10% Sulfur | 85% | $34.00 | |
DermaHarmony Sulfur & Salicylic Acid Liquid Castile Soap | 84% | $8.79 | |
 EmerginC Blemish Control Tinted Treatment | 84% | $30.00 | |
Bye Bye Blemish drying lotion | 84% | $7.99 |
Key Actives
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)
A broad spectrum sunblock (protects from both UVA and UVB rays). Is suitable for most sensitive skins. In small concentrations, can be used as a colorant
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin
Potential irritants
A drying alcohol. Can increase skin's sensitivity and cause dryness and irritation
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)
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
Plant extract that has some anti-bacterial properties. Can be used as a fragrance. Can be irritating
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
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
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Comedogenic ingredients
All ingredients
A drying alcohol. Can increase skin's sensitivity and cause dryness and irritation
A broad spectrum sunblock (protects from both UVA and UVB rays). Is suitable for most sensitive skins. In small concentrations, can be used as a colorant
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
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)
Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
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
Plant extract that has some anti-bacterial properties. Can be used as a fragrance. Can be irritating
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
Ingredient list view
Isopropyl alcohol, Water, Calamine, Camphor, Sulfur, Zinc oxide, Talc, Glycerin, Salicylic acid, Ci 77891, Titanium dioxide, Water, Propylene glycol, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Rosa canina seed extract, Thymus vulgaris leaf extract, Fucus vesiculosus extract, Gardenia florida fruit extract, Caprylyl glycol, Hexylene glycol, Polysorbate 20, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium chloride, Citronellol, Geraniol, Ci 17200, Ci 42090
- A review of inorganic UV filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxide
- Risk assessment of zinc oxide, a cosmetic ingredient used as a UV filter of sunscreens
- Characterization of the UVA protection provided by avobenzone, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide in broad-spectrum sunscreen products
- Ultraviolet Protection Properties of Commercial Sunscreens and Sunscreens Containing Zno Nanorods
- ZnO nanoparticles and organic chemical UV-filters are equally well tolerated by human immune cells
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- 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
- Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitis
- Propylene Glycol
- Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycol
- Allergic contact dermatitis from gardenia fruit
- VOLATILE CONSTITUENTS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF GARDENIA JASMINOIDES
- Annex I: Clinical evidence regarding sensitisation to individual fragrance chemicals and to natural extracts