SkinMedica AHA/BHA Cream Versus IMAGE skincare Ageless Total Facial Cleanser

SkinMedica AHA/BHA Cream Versus IMAGE skincare Ageless Total Facial Cleanser

This smoothing moisturizer is formulated around Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.

This glycolic acid foaming cleanser is formulated around Glycolic Acid to exfoliate and smooth skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Glycerin

Cetyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Stearate

PEG-100 Stearate

Squalane

Saccharum Officinarum Extract

Dimethicone

Stearic Acid

Magnesium Aluminum Silicate

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract

Citrus Limon Fruit Extract

Acer Saccharum Extract

Salicylic Acid

Althaea Officinalis Root Extract

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Tocopheryl Acetate

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Panthenol

Bisabolol

Polysorbate 20

Polyacrylate-13

Polyisobutene

Butylene Glycol

Xanthan Gum

Aminomethyl Propanol

Phenoxyethanol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Potassium Sorbate

Water, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Squalane, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Salicylic Acid, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Bisabolol, Polysorbate 20, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate

Glycolic Acid

Ammonium Laureth Sulfate

Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate

Ammonium Hydroxide

Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine

Glycol Distearate

Laureth-10

Caprylyl Glycol

Ammonium Sulfate

Ammonium Chloride

Menthol

Hexylene Glycol

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

Sodium Benzoate

Sodium Chloride

Glyoxal

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Water, Glycolic Acid, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Phenoxyethanol, Glycol Distearate, Laureth-10, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Sulfate, Ammonium Chloride, Menthol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Glyoxal, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is the filtered, stabilized liquid pressed from the inner gel of the aloe vera leaf.

In cosmetics, it shows up as either soothing active or a water-replacement base. It is roughly 98-99% water and the last 1-2% is an interesting mix of polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

The polysaccharides do most of the work: they bind water at the skin surface for a light, non-greasy hydration boost. And one of the polysaccharides, glycomannan, is linked to fibroblast stimulation + collagen synthesis. This is also why aloe has such a long track record in wound and burn healing.

This ingredient is also calming with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity, making it a great pick for sensitive, irritated, or post-sun skin.

Realistic expectations matter though; the solid evidence is mostly limited to hydration, soothing, and wound support. Deeper claims about anti-aging or sun protection are not well backed, and science reviews note it does not prevent radiation-induced skin injury.

Because it plays well with almost everything, it's commonly used as a base alongside other actives like niacinamide or vitamin C.

Typical usage concentrations range from 0.5% (where hydration benefits already show up) all the way to 90%+ (where it replaces water as the main base).

The safety for this ingredient is well-establish as well. Overall, this is a great supporting ingredient for those who want a boost in hydration.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.

Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.

This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).

It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.

On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

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