Works for
Anti-blemishSalicylic acidWorks well
“The blemish-fighting formula penetrates pores to help clear them of debris, helps fight acne blemishes including blackheads, and helps prevent new acne from forming by absorbing the excess oils that can lead to blemishes.”
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.
ExfoliationSalicylic acidWorks well
“And to help keep skin looking spotless, super exfoliators eliminate excess oils and pore-clogging debris.”
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.
Evens skin toneSalicylic acid, Magnesium ascorbyl phosphateNot delivered
“What Else You Need to Know: This blemish-fighting formula with saw palmetto and 1.5 percent salicylic acid helps eliminate excess oil that can lead to break outs. It also helps visibly correct lingering discoloration for a spot-free look.”
This product might help improve the skin tone through exfoliation. In other words, it helps to speed up the shedding of cells from the upper layer of the skin, and this might help reduce hyperpigmentation.
MoisturizingSide benefit · Pyrus malus fruit extract, Algae extract + 7 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:
algae extract, glycerin.
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: algae extract.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy6 strong irritants: Alcohol denat., Hamamelis virginiana extract + 4 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale2 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Salicylic acid1.5%
- 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 acidWater~45–55%
Alcohol denat.~11–13%
- Irritation risk
- High
Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products
More about Alcohol denat.Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer~6.4–7.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Maintains the texture of skincare products. Allows the product to spread evenly. Helps oil and water mix together
More about Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymerHamamelis virginiana extract~3.8–4.7%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
More about Hamamelis virginiana extractEugenia caryophyllus bud oil~2.5–3.1%
Origanum heracleoticum flower oil~2.2–2.7%
- Irritation risk
- High
Eugenol~1.6–1.9%
Limonene~1.5–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- High
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
More about LimoneneCucumis sativus fruit extract~1.3–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Might be somewhat helpful in reducing hyperpigmentation and neutralizing free radicals but its typical concentration in a product is too low for having an effect
More about Cucumis sativus fruit extractPyrus malus fruit extract~1–1.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can have some moisturizing properties due to its sugar content
More about Pyrus malus fruit extractScutellaria baicalensis root extract~0.65–1%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might contain a compound baicalin that could be helpful in neutralizing free radicals and reducing inflammation in skin. The baicalin concentration in skincare products is often too low for an effective action. Can be used for its fragrant properties
More about Scutellaria baicalensis root extractAlgae extract~0.7–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Plant extract that helps the skin to attract water and make it more smooth for touch. Also shows promise of anti-aging properties, but research is not extensive yet
More about Algae extractPoria cocos sclerotium extract~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A mushroom extract that can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might be able to help reduce irritation and support restoration of skin barrier
More about Poria cocos sclerotium extractLaminaria saccharina extract~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
A seaweed extract that contains sugars and can be helpful in attracting water to the upper layers of the skin if used in high enough concentrations
More about Laminaria saccharina extractLactobacillus ferment~0.45–0.65%
- 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 fermentGlycerin~0.3–0.55%
- 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 GlycerinCaffeine~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals. Can have a dehydration effect that might somewhat decrease the look of puffy eyes
More about CaffeineButylene glycol~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolTocopheryl acetate~0.1–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateMagnesium ascorbyl phosphate~0.1–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A derivative of vitamin C that is more stable, but less bioavailable than the pure form of vitamin C. It does not penetrate the skin well, but has been shown to convert to pure vitamin C once in skin. It can be helpful in stimulating collagen production and lightening the skin tone, but the required concentration is likely to be very high
More about Magnesium ascorbyl phosphateSodium hydroxide~0.1–0.15%
Phenoxyethanol~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolIngredient list view
Salicylic acid, Water, Alcohol denat., Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Hamamelis virginiana extract, Eugenia caryophyllus bud oil, Origanum heracleoticum flower oil, Eugenol, Limonene, Cucumis sativus fruit extract, Pyrus malus fruit extract, Scutellaria baicalensis root extract, Algae extract, Poria cocos sclerotium extract, Laminaria saccharina extract, Lactobacillus ferment, Glycerin, Caffeine, Butylene glycol, Tocopheryl acetate, Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, Sodium hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
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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.
| OriginsSuper Spot Remover Acne Treatment GelYOUR PRODUCT | CliniqueNEW Anti-Blemish Solutions Clinical Advanced Clearing Gel | Peter Thomas RothGoodbye Acne Acne AHA/BHA Acne Clearing Gel Face Body Spot Treatment | freezeframeBlemish Bomb | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 93% | 90% | 88% |
| Price | $20.00 | $25.13+$5.13 | $20.00 | $16.26−$3.74 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 8 | 2 of 8 | 2 of 8 |
| Key difference | — | Sucrose | Glycolic Acid | Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Anti-Blemish Clarifying GelFirst Aid Beauty Pharma BHA Acne Spot Treatment Gel 2% Salicylic Acid
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 21 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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