La Roche-Posay
Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment SerumSkinCeuticals
Blemish + Age Defense SerumA serum built around AHA and Glycolic acid, for smoothing and brightening.
A serum built around BHA and Salicylic acid, for smoothing and barrier repair.
Brand price
USD 44.99 · checked 25 Sept 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 115.00 · checked 28 Sept 2026 · brand's site

At a Glance

They come out differently on Fragrance-free, Pore-clogger-free and Oil-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Key Ingredients


Benefits

Barrier Repair3
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Smoothing5
Refines rough or uneven texture.
Citric Acid, Diisopropyl Adipate, Glycolic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Salicylic Acid

Concerns

May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis3
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
PEG-30 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis1
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat. (in both products)
Fragrance
0 / —
- Denatured alcohol
- May Worsen Dryness
- May Worsen Eczema
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Rosacea
Glycolic Acid (in both products)
Buffering
0-1 / —
- AHA
- Glycolic acid
- Anti-Aging
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Exfoliating
- Smoothing
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid (in both products)
Buffering
0-1 / —
- AHA
- Glycolic acid
- Anti-Aging
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Exfoliating
- Smoothing
Emulsifying
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat. (in both products)
Fragrance
0 / —
- Denatured alcohol
- May Worsen Dryness
- May Worsen Eczema
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Rosacea
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid (in both products)
Buffering
0-1 / —
- AHA
- Glycolic acid
- Anti-Aging
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Exfoliating
- Smoothing
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →Alcohol Denat.
Antifoaming, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Alcohol Denat. is a drying alcohol.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat. →Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid is an AHA.
Learn more about Glycolic Acid →Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering, Denaturant
Sodium hydroxide
Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide →Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
Buffering
4-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid
Learn more about Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid →Citric Acid
Buffering, Chelating, Fragrance
Citric Acid is an AHA.
Learn more about Citric Acid →Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Benzoic acid, 2-octanoyloxy-
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic Acid →Polyquaternium-10
Antistatic, Film Forming
Cellulose, 2-(2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonium)propoxy)ethyl ether, chloride; Cellulose, 2-hydroxyethyl 2-[2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonio)propoxy]ethyl 2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonio)propyl ether, chloride Cellulose, ether with alpha-[2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonio)propyl]-omega-hydroxypoly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), chloride
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10 →
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