The INKEY List 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser: a Guru Score of 83%

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

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Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.23M subs

✓Yay

"Go for a simple salicylic acid face wash like The INKEY List"

All 4 takes from Dr. Vanita Rattan

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"Go for a simple salicylic acid face wash like The INKEY List"

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"The INKEY List has a very good salicylic acid wash. It has niacinamide in here as well plus glycerin so it's hydrating to the skin, so I managed to combine two of the key actives into the face wash."

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"If you are prone to breakouts you should be washing with a 2% salicylic acid face wash. The INKEY List does a very good salicylic acid face wash."

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"I also like the 2% salicylic acid from the inky list. [...] So 2% salicylic acid will basically just help to unclog the pore and it just keeps doing it. So you can't really stop using salicylic acid if you have oily acne prone skin because what happens with your pore is it will continue to fill up and every time it fills up you're likely to have a breakout."

Alexandra Anele

1.44M subs

✓Yay

"I decided to buy the salicylic acid cleanser because I was getting low. [...] It's also glycerin based and has salicylic acid. I think it only has 1%, so it's a percentage down, which is nice, so I think it'll be a little bit more gentle on my skin overall while continuing to take care of my skin barrier. I finished this and it is great. The INKEY List is tried and true. They have really great products. They're relatively affordable, and you can get them at Sephora."

James Welsh

1.58M subs

✓Yay

"For oily, breakout or acne prone skin, or those wanting to maintain well-maintained pores, I think you will love the INKEY List salicylic acid cleanser. It's a great daily use cleanser that contains 2% salicylic acid you massage on the face for 60 seconds to 2 minutes [...] and rinse away. If you have a teenager just starting to break out and get blackheads, [...] this is a great way to gently and safely introduce a chemical exfoliant into their routine. I love this one."

Caroline Hirons

250k subs

✓Yay

"I'm quite oily, so salicylic acid, and again I'm plugging it, but I'd be in serious trouble because I profusely sweat throughout the day."

All 2 takes from Caroline Hirons

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"I'm quite oily, so salicylic acid, and again I'm plugging it, but I'd be in serious trouble because I profusely sweat throughout the day."

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"I'm quite oily and I'm in serious trouble body-wise without salicylic acid. I try and stay healthy, I [...] work out as much as I can because it keeps my mind balanced, and [...] that means I profusely sweat throughout the day."

Mixed Makeup

1.46M subs

✓Yay

"A 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser is a really great way to get exfoliation if you have any clogged pores. Salicylic acid is a wonderful ingredient for that because it actually breaks down pores and it even helps to balance out your oil production. In a cleanser form like this it's really gentle on your skin because you are rinsing it off. It's doing its job and then it's being rinsed off, so it's not going to have this long-term effect of continuously exfoliating [...] your skin."

Hyram

4.34M subs

✓Yay

"The Inkey List is one of the most affordable brands out there with great formulas. [...] My top two are definitely first the Salicylic Acid Cleanser, great if you struggle with breakouts or acne to get a little bit of the exfoliation when you cleanse."

All 5 takes from Hyram

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"The Inkey List is one of the most affordable brands out there with great formulas. [...] My top two are definitely first the Salicylic Acid Cleanser, great if you struggle with breakouts or acne to get a little bit of the exfoliation when you cleanse."

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"The main reason I love it is because it includes salicylic acid, which is great for deeply exfoliating your pores and making sure there's no dead skin cell buildup that may be contributing to breakouts or acne. It's a really good price point. [...] It's always been one of my favorites. If you have oily skin and you're looking for a good affordable option to treat that concern, I highly recommend checking this one out."

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"If she's wanting something a little bit more intense to really get everything out of the pores, there's the Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser that I've recommended in the past."

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"I love recommending this one because it's a good two in one for people who don't necessarily want a dedicated salicylic acid product, though if you really need help with oiliness or breakouts I'd recommend a dedicated salicylic acid product instead. It's still very gentle, a good overall cleansing experience, a simple ingredient list, a great price point, and it just does its job."

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"I also recommend the Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser if you're wanting a little bit of an exfoliating experience, because salicylic acid works to help minimize oil production on the skin but also get rid of dead skin cells in your pores. This one's a great one that I've recommended for a long time, especially if you want a two in one cleansing experience."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

✓Yay

"The INKEY List has come out with a two percent salicylic acid liquid exfoliant in a base formula with blue algae extract, which marine extracts are super hydrating. This is going to be helpful if you are someone who has comedones, which are facial bumps. This can also be helpful to use if you're someone who is prone to getting milia, those little white firm bumps that can happen in areas where you have a lot of sun damage or if you have had a procedure recently like dermabrasion."

All 2 takes from Dr Dray

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"The INKEY List has come out with a two percent salicylic acid liquid exfoliant in a base formula with blue algae extract, which marine extracts are super hydrating. This is going to be helpful if you are someone who has comedones, which are facial bumps. This can also be helpful to use if you're someone who is prone to getting milia, those little white firm bumps that can happen in areas where you have a lot of sun damage or if you have had a procedure recently like dermabrasion."

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"I like their salicylic acid cleanser."

Mad About Skin

731k subs

✓Yay

"I love that product so much, it's one of my summer staples."

Doctorly

3.59M subs

✓Yay

"The Inkey List has one, too. I think also affordable 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser as well."

All 2 takes from Doctorly

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"The Inkey List has a 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser."

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"The Inkey List has one, too. I think also affordable 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser as well."

Dr Alexis Stephens

582k subs

✓Yay

"If you've got oily skin and you need something a bit more robust and the two percent salicylic acid tends to be the better choice here, but I know a lot of you guys don't necessarily want to go into the derm's office or wait for something to come through the mail, so there's some great over-the-counter options. INKEY has a fantastic one that is two percent and extremely affordable."

Dr. Sam Ellis

898k subs

✓Yay

"The Inky List has a 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser that also has a zinc compound in it which helps with oil control. This is just a great super straightforward affordable salicylic acid cleanser."

Cassandra Bankson

2.46M subs

✓Yay

"Inky list has some fantastic ones that are under $10"

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is The INKEY List 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser?

A gel cleanser formulated with 2% salicylic acid, niacinamide, and glycerin designed to gently exfoliate and cleanse oily and breakout-prone skin.

Is The INKEY List 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser worth it?

Mostly yes. 13 of the 14 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 83%.

What is The INKEY List 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser's Guru Score?

The INKEY List 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser holds a Guru Score of 83%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 14 expert reviewers we have collected.