Salicylic Acid Face Wash

Chemist at Play

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The Chemist at Play Salicylic Acid Face Wash is a cleanser. Our analysis of its 30 ingredients (23 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Cleansers
Ingredients
30
Low-risk
23
Fragrance
Contains fragrance
Origin
India
Data updated
Jun 2026

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

PH Level

(Know the PH? Submit it here! )

N/A - No submissions yet

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 4/10
Good for dry skin
Sorbitol Glycerin Sphingolipids Zinc PCA
Caution for dry skin
Centella Asiatica Extract Cellulose Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate Xanthan Gum Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside Glycerin Salicylic Acid Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate Polysorbate 80 Menthol
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 2/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Azelaic Acid Salicylic Acid
Sensitive Skin 4/7
Good for sensitive skin
Centella Asiatica Extract Glycerin Sphingolipids Menthol
Caution for sensitive skin
Sorbitol Azelaic Acid Glycerin Salicylic Acid Citric Acid Menthol Phenoxyethanol

Ingredients list

30 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (4)
All30 Skin Conditioning18 Hair Conditioning9 Fragrance8 Viscosity Controlling6 Humectant6 Foam Boosting5 Masking4 Cleansing4
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
4
B
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
2
B
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant)
Sulfate
Sulfate
1
Sorbitol
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Humectant, Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning)
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
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
2
A
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
B
Centella Asiatica Extract
(Cleansing, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing, Soothing, Tonic)
salix alba bark extract
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Soothing, Tonic)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
3
B
Polysorbate 80
(Denaturant, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant)
1
B
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
A
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing)
1
A
Azelaic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
3
Zinc PCA
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
1
A
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
(Hair Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Hydrotrope, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
(Hair Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Foaming)
Oryza Sativa Cera
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Smoothing, Viscosity Controlling)
Ceramide Ag
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Phospholipids
(Skin Conditioning)
3
Sphingolipids
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Skin Protecting)
1
A
Cellulose
(Absorbent, Bulking Agent, Slip Modifier, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
2
A
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming)
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Menthol
(Denaturant, External Analgesic, Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Oral Health Caredrug, Masking, Refreshing, Soothing)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Dry Skin
3
CI 14700
(Cosmetic Colorant)
1
CI 15985
(Cosmetic Colorant)

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

Antioxidants
Shields skin from free radical damage.
BHA
Unclogs pores and reduces excess oil.
PHA
Gently exfoliates and hydrates with less irritation.
Zinc
Helps control oil and supports healing.

Benefits

HydratingBoosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Barrier RepairStrengthen and restore your skin's natural barrier.
Good For Oily SkinBalances oil and helps reduce shine.
Reduces IrritationEases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Reduces Large PoresMinimizes the look of enlarged pores.
Redness ReducingSoothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Scar HealingImproves the look of marks and scars.
Acne FightingFights acne and helps prevent breakouts.

Concerns

Contains paraben
Contains sulfate
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
May not suit dry skin
May not suit sensitive skin

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Antistatic agent, Hair conditioning
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B Antistatic agentHair conditioningSkin conditioningSufactantFoam boostingViscosity increasing agentViscosity controlling
Sorbitol
Flavoring agent, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Flavoring agentFragranceHumectantPlasticizerSkin conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion stabilising, Film forming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Emulsion stabilisingFilm formingViscosity controlling
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B CleansingSkin conditioningSmoothingSoothingTonic
salix alba bark extract
Astringent, Hair conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AstringentHair conditioningSkin conditioningSoothingTonic
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
Cleansing, Foaming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CleansingFoamingSurfactant
Niacinamide
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningSmoothing
Azelaic Acid
Fragrance, Ph adjuster
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking
Zinc PCA
Skin conditioning, Humectant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 Skin conditioningHumectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
Hair conditioning, Sufactant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Hair conditioningSufactantFoam boostingHydrotropeSkin conditioning
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
Hair conditioning, Sufactant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Hair conditioningSufactantFoam boostingFoaming
Oryza Sativa Cera
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningSkin protectingSmoothingViscosity controlling
Ceramide Ag
Hair conditioning, Humectant
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Hair conditioningHumectantSkin conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioning
+ 7 more — see the full ingredients list above
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing, Foaming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR B CleansingFoamingSurfactant Sulfate
Salicylic Acid
Antiacne agent, Antidandruff agent
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B Antiacne agentAntidandruff agentCorn/callus/wart removerDenaturantExfoliantFragranceHair conditioningSkin conditioningKeratolyticMaskingPreservative Good for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Polysorbate 80
Denaturant, Emulsifying
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B DenaturantEmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing, Foaming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B CleansingFoamingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Citric Acid
Chelating agent, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Chelating agentFragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin
Menthol
Denaturant, External analgesic
Potentially a skin irritantRead moreShow less
EWG 1 DenaturantExternal analgesicFlavoring agentFragranceOral health caredrugMaskingRefreshingSoothing Good for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive SkinBad for Dry Skin

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Use as the first step, on clean hands, before the rest of your routine.
  • 2 Morning & evening: Suitable for both AM and PM use.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Use with caution
BHA (salicylic) (Salicylic Acid)

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.

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

Niacinamide 2–5% (up to 10%)

Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.

Niacinamide

BHA (salicylic) 0.5–2%

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

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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