PoreWise The Ordinary · Exfoliants
AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
Product
- Brand:
- The Ordinary
- Product type:
- Exfoliants
- Last checked:
- 2026-10-30
- Formula version:
- Pack label · 2026-10-30
- Fragrance & alcohol:
- Fragrance-free · Alcohol-free
24 ingredients on this list · Glycolic acid at number 1 · WATER at number 2 · Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water at number 3
Product description
A weekly rinse-off exfoliating solution with 30% alpha-hydroxy acids and 2% salicylic acid.
Full ingredient list
Kept exactly as the source printed it, including spelling in the original.
- 1 GLYCOLIC ACID
- 2 WATER
- 3 ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF WATER
- 4 SODIUM HYDROXIDE
- 5 DAUCUS CAROTA SATIVA EXTRACT
- 6 PROPANEDIOL
- 7 COCAMIDOPROPYL DIMETHYLAMINE
- 8 SALICYLIC ACID
- 9 LACTIC ACID
- 10 TARTARIC ACID
- 11 CITRIC ACID
- 12 PANTHENOL
- 13 SODIUM HYALURONATE CROSSPOLYMER
- 14 TASMANNIA LANCEOLATA FRUIT/LEAF EXTRACT
- 15 GLYCERIN
- 16 PENTYLENE GLYCOL
- 17 XANTHAN GUM
- 18 POLYSORBATE 20
- 19 TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE
- 20 POTASSIUM SORBATE
- 21 SODIUM BENZOATE
- 22 ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN
- 23 1,2-HEXANEDIOL
- 24 CAPRYLYL GLYCOL
Original label text
Glycolic Acid, Aqua (Water), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Propanediol, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol
Ingredient analysis
SALICYLIC ACID · Actives · PROPANEDIOL · Humectants · POLYSORBATE 20 · Cleansing agents
Humectants
7Bind water and draw it into the upper layers of the skin.
Exfoliants
4Loosen the bonds between corneocytes so dead cells shed.
Preservatives
4Inhibit microbial growth so the product stays safe to use.
Soothing agents
2Used to reduce the sensation of irritation or discomfort.
Chelating agents
2Binds metal ions to keep the formula stable.
Other
5Use on the ingredient list: see the product ingredient list.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source
In a prospective, randomized, evaluator-blind, split-face trial of 20 patients with acne vulgaris, two 50% glycolic acid + 0.5% salicylic acid peels significantly reduced total lesion count (P<0.001) and produced fewer side effects than Jessner's solution.
Who it applies to: Patients with acne vulgaris receiving two 50% glycolic acid + 0.5% salicylic acid peels 2 weeks apart (one side vs Jessner's solution on the other).
Study limits: Small sample (20) and a combination peel (glycolic + salicylic acid); this is a procedural peel.
- Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source
In a 2-week double-blind split-face study of 37 participants, a biphasic serum with 10% glycolic acid delivered 45.52% greater exfoliation (p<0.001) and improved skin brightness, texture and hydration versus the comparison side.
Who it applies to: Healthy participants using a 10% glycolic acid biphasic serum on one side of the face for 2 weeks.
Study limits: Short duration (2 weeks) and a single product formulation; the study measured exfoliation and cosmetic parameters.
- Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Low Primary source
In 23 women, a single application of a 4% alpha-hydroxy acid solution combined with negative-pressure physical action significantly reduced whitehead and blackhead counts at 1, 2 and 4 weeks, and reduced pore area and number at week 1, compared with AHA peeling alone.
Who it applies to: Healthy women receiving a single in-clinic application in a randomised split-face design, assessed at 1, 2 and 4 weeks.
Study limits: The intervention was a single in-clinic chemical peeling plus negative-pressure physical action.
Related skin concerns
Skin concerns with evidence for ingredients on this list.
Formula history
1 version of this formula on record.