2% Salicylic Acid & Niacinamide Face Wash
The Clever Soap 2% Salicylic Acid & Niacinamide Face Wash is a cleanser. Our analysis of its 16 ingredients (13 low-risk) rates it Excellent (94/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin.
The Clever Soap 2% Salicylic Acid & Niacinamide Face Wash is a cleanser. Our analysis of its 16 ingredients (13 low-risk) rates it Excellent (94/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
|
|
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
(Emollient, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Sensitive Skin
|
|
|
|
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
|
|
Coco-glucoside
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
(Hair Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Foaming) |
|
|
|
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
(Fragrance, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
(Antidandruff Agent, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foaming, Masking, Moisturising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium Bicarbonate
(Abrasive, Buffering Agent, Deodorant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Phadjuster, Skin Protecting) |
|
|
|
|
Hippophae Rhamnoides Kernel Extract
(Masking, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Dehydroacetic Acid
(Preservative) |
|
|
|
|
Benzoic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Preservative, Bulking Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
|
|
Sorbic Acid
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
|
|
|
|
Benzyl Alcohol
(External Analgesic, Fragrance, Oral Health Care Drug, Preservative, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Masking) |
Allergens
|
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
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.
From the community
Used this product? Rate it in 10 seconds
Alternatives
Other products people analyze alongside this one.