MA
AGreat
AHA + BHA Blemish Control & Exfoliating Serum
The Banu AHA + BHA Blemish Control & Exfoliating Serum is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 29 ingredients (26 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin.
The Banu AHA + BHA Blemish Control & Exfoliating Serum is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 29 ingredients (26 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
Dry Skin
3/7
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
1/0
Sensitive Skin
2/7
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
4
|
B
|
Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Isopentyldiol
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Dipropylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
(Bulking Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Mandelic Acid
(Antimicrobial) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Succinic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
|
|
4
|
A
|
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
1
|
|
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
(Cleansing, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sclerotium Gum
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
2
3
|
|
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Pullulan
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Binding) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
|
|
|
Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
|
|
1
|
|
Sodium Phytate
(Chelating Agent, Oral Care Agent) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
|
|
1
2
|
A
|
Silica
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
1,2-Hexanediol
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Hydroxyacetophenone
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.
Salicylic Acid
OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.
Mandelic Acid
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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