Oil-Free Acne Wash (Fragrance-Free)

Product description

A fragrance-free 2% salicylic acid wash. In the US this is an OTC acne drug, so the page declares the active ingredient separately from the inactive list.

Full ingredient list

Kept exactly as the source printed it, including spelling in the original.

1. 1 SALICYLIC ACID
2. 2 WATER
3. 3 COCAMIDOPROPYL HYDROXYSULTAINE
4. 4 SODIUM METHYL COCOYL TAURATE
5. 5 GLYCERIN
6. 6 SODIUM CHLORIDE
7. 7 SODIUM HYDROLYZED POTATO STARCH DODECENYLSUCCINATE
8. 8 PANTHENOL
9. 9 CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER EXTRACT
10. 10 PEG-120 METHYL GLUCOSE DIOLEATE
11. 11 COCAMIDOPROPYL PG-DIMONIUM CHLORIDE PHOSPHATE
12. 12 C12-15 ALKYL LACTATE
13. 13 BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE
14. 14 DISODIUM EDTA
15. 15 SODIUM HYDROXIDE

Salicylic Acid, Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Starch Dodecenylsuccinate, Panthenol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Benzalkonium Chloride, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hydroxide

Ingredient analysis

SALICYLIC ACID · Actives · GLYCERIN · Humectants · C12-15 Alkyl Lactate · Emollients

Evidence

• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source

  In 83 adults with comedones, a serum containing salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid significantly improved open comedones on the nose, closed comedones on the face, skin pore density, sebum secretion and skin hydration from baseline after 8 weeks; adding a mask improved closed comedones more than the serum alone (-6.56 vs -5.19, p = 0.022).

  Who it applies to: Adults in Shanghai with comedones, PIE and PIH, using the serum for 8 weeks.

  Study limits: Both groups used active products; improvements were reported against baseline and between the two active groups. Industry-funded. This is the trial found that counted open and closed comedones separately.

  Source:Efficacy and safety of a facial serum and a mask containing salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid in acne management: A randomized controlled trial
• Skin effect Clinical guideline Certainty: Moderate Primary source

  The 2024 American Academy of Dermatology acne guideline lists topical salicylic acid as a conditional recommendation. Strong recommendations in the same guideline go to benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, topical antibiotics and oral doxycycline.

  Who it applies to: Acne vulgaris in people aged nine and older, as covered by the guideline's scope.

  Source:Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris (2024)
• Skin effect Review article Certainty: Low Primary source

  Against topical tretinoin, salicylic acid showed similar values in overall acne improvement (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.09; one trial, 46 participants). The review graded the certainty of that finding as low.

  Who it applies to: Topical salicylic acid for mild to moderate acne. Most participants in the review were 12 to 30 years old, and most studies ran longer than eight weeks.

  Study limits: The review covers 49 trials with 3880 participants, salicylic acid appears in a small part of them: 41 to 86 participants per comparison. Every salicylic acid comparison was graded low or very low certainty.

  Source:Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha-hydroxy acid) for acne
• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Very low Primary source

  In a 21-day prospective study of 42 people with mild-to-moderate acne and oily or combination skin, a salicylic-acid-containing gel used twice daily was associated with a 23.65% fall in sebum, a 40.5% rise in skin hydration, a 49.26% fall in transepidermal water loss and a 23.81% improvement in acne grade (all P < 0.05 except IGA P < 0.001).

  Who it applies to: Sebum, skin hydration, transepidermal water loss and acne grade over 21 days in people with oily or combination skin.

  Study limits: One centre, 21 days, 37 of 42 participants were women, and the research group was affiliated with the product maker.

  Source:Clinical Efficacy of a Salicylic Acid-Containing Gel on Acne Management and Skin Barrier Function: A 21-Day Prospective Study
• Skin effect Brand claim Certainty: High Public database

  Salicylic acid is a keratolytic: it loosens the bonds between dead skin cells so they shed.

  Who it applies to: Acne and keratolysis, at the concentrations permitted for cosmetic use.

  Study limits: Most evidence comes from leave-on acne treatments. A cleanser is on the skin for a minute. · Finding · SALICYLIC ACID

  Source:Salicylic Acid (CeraVe ingredient page)PubChem
• Irritation Review article Certainty: Very low Primary source

  Trials of topical salicylic acid for acne reported application-site reactions such as scaling and redness.

  Who it applies to: Topical salicylic acid in acne trials, mainly leave-on use over eight weeks or longer.

  Study limits: The review graded the salicylic acid adverse-event comparisons as very low certainty.

  Source:Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha-hydroxy acid) for acne
• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source

  In a randomized, double-blind, four-arm crossover study of 51 healthy volunteers with dry skin, an emollient containing glycerol and petrolatum raised corneometry-measured skin moisture significantly above its vehicle (P < 0.0001) over 12 hours. The authors attributed the hydration gain to the glycerol component and the lower water loss to the petrolatum component.

  Who it applies to: Corneometry (skin moisture) and transepidermal water loss over 12 hours after one application.

  Study limits: Measured on the forearms. The significant hydration result comes from the full emollient containing both glycerol and petrolatum.

  Source:Combined effects of glycerol and petrolatum in an emollient cream: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study in healthy volunteers with dry skin
• Skin effect Review article Certainty: Moderate Primary source

  Topical glycerol improves stratum corneum hydration, barrier function and skin mechanical properties. The review also reports reduced irritation response and faster wound healing, and traces the effect to aquaporin-3 transport and to glycerol's own presence in the skin.

  Who it applies to: Leave-on products. The review discusses both healthy skin and skin with dry or barrier-impaired conditions such as atopic dermatitis.

  Study limits: A narrative review. It compiles mechanisms and results from other studies.

  Source:Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
• Skin effect Official ingredient listing Certainty: High Public database

  Glycerin is classified as a humectant in cosmetic ingredient databases: its role in a formula is to hold water.

  Who it applies to: Cosmetic formulas generally. · Ingredient database · GLYCERIN

  Study limits: Skin effect of to the stratum corneum comes from a separate review of the literature. · Ingredient database · GLYCERIN

  Source:PubChemCosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database
• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source

  In 88 women with sensitive skin, a face cream containing Centella asiatica leaf extract, ceramide NP and panthenol lowered the SS-10 symptom score by 66% at week 2 and 76% at week 4, with irritation, tautness, itching and redness all significantly reduced.

  Who it applies to: Chinese women with sensitive skin applying the cream to the whole face, followed up at day 2, weeks 1, 2 and 4.

  Study limits: Observational and self-controlled.

  Source:The Effectiveness and Safety of a Skin Care Product With Centella asiatica Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, and Panthenol in Subjects With Sensitive Skin: A Prospective, Observational Study
• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source

  In 38 children with atopic dermatitis, a cream containing linoleic acid, 5% dexpanthenol and ceramide improved SCORAD significantly more than a 5% urea cream after 4 weeks (P = 0.043); both groups improved from baseline.

  Who it applies to: Children with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis applying the cream twice daily for 4 weeks in a randomised, double-blind, bilateral paired design.

  Study limits: Both interventions were non-prescription moisturisers: this is emollient / basic skin care. Small sample (37 completed); stratum corneum hydration and time to remission stayed close between groups.

  Source:A cream containing linoleic acid, 5% dexpanthenol and ceramide in the treatment of atopic dermatitis
• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source

  In 110 people with facial sensitive skin, a cream containing panthenol used twice daily for 28 days significantly increased stratum corneum moisture and reduced erythema index, redness (a* value) and transepidermal water loss.

  Who it applies to: People with facial sensitive skin applying the cream twice daily for 28 days.

  Study limits: Panthenol was combined with prebiotics and a probiotic lysate.

  Source:Efficacy and safety of a cream containing panthenol, prebiotics, and probiotic lysate for improving sensitive skin symptoms
• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Low Primary source

  After facial non-ablative fractional laser treatment, a panthenol mask lowered the erythema and pigmentation indices on days 3, 7 and 14 against a saline dressing, raised stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss over the same days. Sebum content was also higher in the mask group on days 7 and 14.

  Who it applies to: Skin recovering from 1550 nm and 1927 nm non-ablative fractional laser on the face. Both groups received standard post-procedure care.

  Study limits: The mask also contained madecassoside and bisabolol. It is one trial of 60 people, all recovering from the same procedure, and the published grant list includes L'Oreal Dermatological Beauty China (La Roche-Posay).

  Source:Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of a Panthenol-Enriched Mask for Skin Barrier Recovery After Facial Laser Treatment: Results of a Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study
• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Low Primary source

  In a randomized, investigator-blind, split-face trial of 40 Asian acne patients, a moisturizer containing 4-t-butylcyclohexanol, licochalcone A, ceramide and panthenol improved facial hydration more than a traditional moisturizer (p=0.001) and produced lower dryness scores (p=0.021) over 4 weeks.

  Who it applies to: Facial hydration and investigator-rated dryness over 4 weeks.

  Study limits: All participants were on prescription acne therapy (including oral isotretinoin), so the dryness is drug-induced; both sides used a moisturizer, so this is a comparison between two moisturisers; acne lesion counts decreased equally on both sides.

  Source:The efficacy of a bioactive moisturizer in mitigating side effects of acne therapies: a randomized, investigator-blind, split-face trial
• Sensitization Review article Certainty: Low Primary source

  Panthenol is treated as non-allergenic, this review argues that frequent exposure, especially on damaged skin, can produce hypersensitivity to it. The likely route is a delayed (type IV) contact reaction; immediate and mixed reactions remain possible. Proposes patch testing with the patient's own product and with panthenol 5% in petrolatum.

  Who it applies to: People who use panthenol products repeatedly, particularly those with atopic or damaged skin - the group the author says is most exposed.

  Study limits: A single-author narrative review. The mechanism it proposes is stated as likely. Read it as a reason to keep panthenol on the list of possible allergens.

  Source:Pantothenic Acid as an Unexpected Cause of Hypersensitivity to Sensitive or Atopic Skin Care Products - A Narrative Review
• Irritation Official ingredient listing Certainty: Moderate Public database

  Cleansing surfactants remove surface oil along with dirt, which can leave skin feeling tight or dry.

  Who it applies to: Rinse-off cleansers. Mildness depends on the whole surfactant system. · Ingredient database · SODIUM LAUROYL SARCOSINATE · COCAMIDOPROPYL HYDROXYSULTAINE · SODIUM METHYL COCOYL TAURATE

  Study limits: Surfactant mildness is a property of the blend. · Ingredient database · SODIUM LAUROYL SARCOSINATE · COCAMIDOPROPYL HYDROXYSULTAINE · SODIUM METHYL COCOYL TAURATE

  Source:CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database

Related skin concerns

Skin concerns with evidence for ingredients on this list.

Formula history

1 version of this formula on record.

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