
Highlights
WHAT IS IT?
Medicated foam cleanser with salicylic acid
FEATURES
Helps clear and prevent acne, unclogs pores, medicated formula
BEST FOR
oily
CHECKS
No parabens, No phthalates, No fragrance, Gluten Free, Oil Free, Free of Denatured Alcohol, Free of Synthetic Colours, SLS Free, SLES Free, Sulfate Free
Who Is It For?
All Ages With Acne-prone SkinWhat Does It Help With?
Acne Clogged Pores Oil ControlBudget
Affordable (under $30)How To Use
Which routine should it be used in?
Instructions:
Key Information
What Clinique Says
Product Description:
Daily medicated cleanser powered by 2% salicylic acid helps clear and prevent acne, and unclog pores.
About the Brand:
Ingredients Overview
Ingredients List
Salicylic Acid 1.5%, Water\Aqua\Eau, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sucrose, Disodium Phosphate, Arginine Cocoate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Caffeine, Algae Extract, Cola Acuminata (Kola) Seed Extract, Sea Whip Extract, Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Lactobacillus Ferment, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Acetyl Glucosamine, Capryloyl Glycine, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Phospholipids, Stearic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Chloroxylenol
Key Ingredients
salicylic acid, acetyl glucosamine, laminaria saccharina extract
Ingredients Details
Arginine Cocoate
Common Name(s): Arginine cocoate,arginine cocoate,arginine-based signal peptide or amino acid active,anti-aging bioactive
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Stimulates collagen synthesis, inhibits mmp-mediated matrix degradation, or provides amino acid-specific skin metabolic support โ delivering measurable anti-aging benefit at ppm concentrations.
Why It's Used: Precision sequence-receptor pharmacology enables mechanism-based anti-aging claims โ defined amino acid sequence targeting specific receptors with quantifiable binding kinetics.
How It Works: Peptide receptor binding โ kinase cascade โ col1a1/col3a1 upregulation + mmp-1/mmp-3 downregulation. spps synthesis provides >98% sequence purity for reproducible receptor binding.
Typically Found In: Anti-aging serums,collagen products
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ peptide
Secondary Functions: Collagen synthesis,anti-aging
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1โ5000 ppm
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Synthetically produced via solid-phase peptide synthesis (spps).
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating at recommended concentrations.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Retinoids,niacinamide,vitamin c,hyaluronic acid
Avoid Combining With: Strong acids below ph 3.5; oxidising agents
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Conjugated peptides provide dual mechanism: the peptide sequence provides receptor-mediated collagen synthesis stimulation while the aromatic/vitamin conjugate adds independent antioxidant or metabolic cofactor activity.
Last Verified: Cosing database,arginine cocoate signal peptide anti-aging review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-22
Butylene Glycol
Common Name(s): 1,3-butanediol,bg,1,3-butylene glycol
CAS Number: 107-88-0
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides humectant hydration and active ingredient solubilization with excellent skin feel.
Why It's Used: Preferred glycol humectant in premium and k-beauty formulations for superior skin feel vs propylene glycol with equivalent functionality.
How It Works: Two hydroxyl groups at 1,3-positions provide water binding and solvent activity. better tolerated than propylene glycol with minimal sensitization risk. 4-carbon backbone provides slightly greater hydrophobic character enabling dissolution of less polar actives vs pg.
Typically Found In: Toners,essences,serums,k-beauty formulas
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ glycol humectant
Secondary Functions: Tewl reduction,skin plumping
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1%โ10%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ synthetic
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Synthetic or naturally derived. excellent aqueous solubility.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; suitable for all skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Ceramides,emollients,occlusives,glycerin,hyaluronic acid
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
K-beauty's preference for butylene glycol over propylene glycol is driven by two factors: bg's superior skin feel (less tacky than pg's higher viscosity) and its lower sensitization potential (1,3-bg has better spatial distribution of hydroxyl groups that reduces protein interaction vs pg's 1,2-position oh groups).
Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Caffeine
Common Name(s): Caffeine,methylxanthine anti-cellulite,antioxidant vasoactive
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Stimulates lipolysis in adipocytes by inhibiting phosphodiesterase (preventing camp breakdown), reduces eye puffiness through vasoconstriction of periorbital capillaries, and provides antioxidant dna repair stimulation for photoprotective benefit.
Why It's Used: The only cosmetic active with a well-defined mechanism for anti-cellulite claims โ phosphodiesterase inhibition elevating adipocyte camp is the documented biochemical pathway, providing mechanism-based efficacy substantiation superior to most slimming actives.
How It Works: Caffeine inhibits phosphodiesterase (pde3, pde4) preventing camp hydrolysis โ elevated camp activates protein kinase a โ phosphorylates hormone-sensitive lipase โ lipolysis of triglycerides in adipocytes. for eye puffiness: caffeine's adenosine receptor antagonism reduces prostaglandin-mediated capillary dilation in periorbital tissue, reducing fluid accumulation.
Typically Found In: Anti-cellulite,eye creams,antioxidant products
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ antioxidant
Secondary Functions: Free radical scavenging,anti-aging
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ3%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Plant-derived extract or synthetic.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; well-tolerated.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Vitamin c,vitamin e,ferulic acid,spf,other antioxidants
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Caffeine has one of the highest sc penetration rates of any cosmetic active (logp -0.07, mw 194 da) โ the combination of small size and moderate logp providing excellent aqueous solubility with sufficient sc lipid partitioning for effective transdermal delivery to adipose tissue.
Last Verified: Cosing database,caffeine pde inhibitor anti-cellulite lipolysis review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Disodium Phosphate
Common Name(s): Disodium phosphate,cosmetic active,functional ingredient
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Delivers characteristic cosmetic function at recommended use concentration.
Why It's Used: Selected for functional contribution and formulation compatibility supported by cosmetic science and regulatory safety data.
How It Works: Works through the mechanism of its molecular class as documented in peer-reviewed cosmetic literature.
Typically Found In: Skin care formulations
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ cosmetic active
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ10%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Disodium phosphate has an established safety profile within the cosmetic regulatory framework at standard use concentrations.
Last Verified: Cosing database,disodium phosphate technical literature
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12