Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser Versus The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser Versus The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser Detailed comparison of Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser US versus The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser Europe. This salicylic acid gel cleanser is formulated around

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Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser Versus The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser Detailed comparison of Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser US versus The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser Europe. This salicylic acid gel cleanser is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and unclog pores. Water Glycerin Cocamidopropyl Betaine Coco-Glucoside Gluconolactone Betaine PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate Sodium Cocoamphoacetate Glycereth-26 Salicylic Acid Sodium Chloride Panthenol Niacinamide Mandelic Acid Sodium Citrate Sodium Hydroxide Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Tocopherol Phenoxyethanol Citric Acid Ethylhexylglycerin Disodium EDTA Pantolactone Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Gluconolactone, Betaine, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Glycereth-26, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Mandelic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Pantolactone Propanediol Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides Zinc PCA Allantoin Glyceryl Oleate Benzyl Alcohol Coconut Acid Sodium Benzoate Dehydroacetic Acid Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Salicylic Acid, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Betaine, Zinc PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Allantoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Benzyl Alcohol, Coconut Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration. Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte. Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even. Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability. Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine. Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes. Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath. However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products. Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH. In skincare formulas, citric acid can: While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants. Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations. Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger. However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure. Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups. This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy. Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin. While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this stud