Stridex Sensitive Skin Pads

Stridex Sensitive Skin Pads

Efficacy100/100IrritancyHigh

Works for

Anti-blemish
Salicylic acid, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice
Works well
What the product description says
“Continues working between uses and helps prevent new pimples from forming.”
Source: Walgreens

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.

Salicylic acidHeroEffect: HighUsed 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)0.5%
Aloe barbadensis leaf juiceEffect: LowTraditionally 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~23–35%
Cleansing
Ammonium lauryl sulfate, Ammonium xylenesulfonate
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“Sensitive Pads have effective skin cleansers that work to remove dirt, oil, and sweat from the surface of the skin.”
Source: Walgreens

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium xylenesulfonate) and should be able to cleanse the skin gently. Still keep in mind that any cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.

Even though this formulation is mild, the following cleansing agents could trigger an irritation or allergy for some people: ammonium lauryl sulfate

Ammonium lauryl sulfateEffect: High~10–15%
Ammonium xylenesulfonateEffect: High~4.8–7.3%
Exfoliation
Side benefit · Salicylic acid
Works 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.

Salicylic acidKey activeEffect: HighUsed 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)0.5%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
3 strong irritants: Parfum, Hamamelis virginiana water + 1 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 10 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
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)High0.5%
Ammonium lauryl sulfate—High~10–15%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~1.5–2.2%est.
Hamamelis virginiana waterA plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritatingHigh~1.1–1.7%est.
Menthol—High~0.9–1.35%est.
Sodium borateA preservativeHigh~0.1–0.3%est.
Aloe barbadensis leaf juiceTraditionally 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 skinMedium~23–35%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~3.4–5.1%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~2.3–3.5%est.
Tetrasodium edtaHelps to stabilize the product formulationMedium~0.05–0.15%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
Ammonium xylenesulfonate—3/5~4.8–7.3%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Salicylic acid0.5%
Hero · Anti-blemishIrritant · 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
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice~23–35%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingAntibacterialAnti-inflammatoryReduces rednessReduces irritationAnti-agingAnti-blemish

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 juice
Ammonium lauryl sulfate~10–15%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing
More about Ammonium lauryl sulfate
Ammonium xylenesulfonate~4.8–7.3%
Comedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
Cleansing
More about Ammonium xylenesulfonate
Citric acid~3.4–5.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

More about Citric acid
Ethylhexylglycerin~2.3–3.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Parfum~1.5–2.2%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Hamamelis virginiana water~1.1–1.7%
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
Menthol~0.9–1.35%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
More about Menthol
Phenoxyethanol~0.4–0.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Water~0.35–0.85%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Simethicone~0.4–0.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A type of silicone that helps to create nice product texture and is used as an anti-foaming agent

More about Simethicone
Sodium borate~0.1–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A preservative

More about Sodium borate
Tetrasodium edta~0.05–0.15%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps to stabilize the product formulation

More about Tetrasodium edta
Ingredient list view

Salicylic acid, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Ammonium lauryl sulfate, Ammonium xylenesulfonate, Citric acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Hamamelis virginiana water, Menthol, Phenoxyethanol, Water, Simethicone, Sodium borate, Tetrasodium edta

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Amazon USPrice as of 11/10 21:22 GMT
$9.32
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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
StridexSensitive Skin PadsYOUR PRODUCTImage skincareClear Cell Clarifying Salicylic Gel CleanserAveenoClear Complexion Daily Cleansing Pads UnspecifiedOXYDaily Defense Cleansing Pads Acne Treatment
Match—87%85%84%
Price$9.32$32.39+$23.07——
Shared key ingredients—3 of 31 of 31 of 3
Key difference—Melia Azadirachta Leaf ExtractGlycine Soja ProteinIsoceteth-20
Irritancy High High Medium Medium
Drying alcohol— Contains drying alcohol — Contains drying alcohol
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More alternatives: Doctor Or Oily OR FORTE Therapeutic Cleansing Gel for Oily Acne Prone SkinClearasil Acne Control Treatment Facial Cleansing Daily Pads 5 in1 with Salicylic Acid

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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 4 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
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  3. 3
  4. 4

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