DHC Salicylic Acne Wash

DHC

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The DHC Salicylic Acne Wash is a treatment. Our analysis of its 20 ingredients (15 low-risk) rates it Excellent (89/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin.

Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Treatments
Ingredients
20
Low-risk
15
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
Japan
Data updated
Jun 2026

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

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

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 3/6
Good for dry skin
Glycol Distearate Cetyl Alcohol Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Caution for dry skin
Cetyl Alcohol Salicylic Acid Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract Steareth-20 Triethanolamine Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 2/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Sensitive Skin 3/5
Good for sensitive skin
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract Allantoin Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract
Caution for sensitive skin
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil Cetyl Alcohol Salicylic Acid Phenoxyethanol Triethanolamine

Ingredients list

20 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (5)
All20 Skin Conditioning12 Viscosity Controlling7 Viscosity Increasing Agent7 Foam Boosting6 Emulsifying5 Fragrance5 Emulsion Stabilising4 Surfactant4
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
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Water
(Solvent)
2
3
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant)
Sulfate
Sulfate
1
A
Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
4
B
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Glycol Distearate
(Opacifying, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
4
B
Cocamide MEA
(Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling)
5
B
Triethanolamine
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Buffering Agent, Masking)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
1
A
Polyethylene
(Abrasive, Adhesive, Binding Agent, Bulking Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Oral Care Agentagent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Film Forming, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling)
3
B
Steareth-20
(Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
B
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
2
Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
1
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
(Tonic)
1
Royal Jelly Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
(Astringent, Humectant, Soothing)
1
A
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin

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

Salicylic Acid
Exfoliant, Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Skin Conditioning
Glycol Distearate
Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil
Skin Conditioning

Benefits

Good for oily/acne-prone skin

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
Cetyl Alcohol
Emulsion stabilising, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Emulsion stabilisingFragranceOpacifyingEmulsifyingSurfactantFoam boostingViscosity increasing agentEmollientMaskingViscosity controlling
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
Cocamide MEA
Foam boosting, Viscosity increasing agent
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 1–4 CIR B Foam boostingViscosity increasing agentEmulsifyingEmulsion stabilisingViscosity controlling
Polyethylene
Abrasive, Adhesive
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A AbrasiveAdhesiveBinding agentBulking agentEmulsion stabilisingFilm formingOral care agentagentViscosity increasing agentViscosity controlling
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Antistatic agent, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Antistatic agentHair conditioningViscosity increasing agentFilm formingSkin conditioningViscosity controlling
Steareth-20
Sufactant, Emulsifying
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B SufactantEmulsifyingSurfactant
Disodium EDTA
Chelating agent, Viscosity controlling
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Chelating agentViscosity controlling
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
Tonic
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Tonic
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 AstringentHumectantSoothing
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
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing, Foaming
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 2–3 CleansingFoamingSurfactant Sulfate
Glycol Distearate
Opacifying, Viscosity increasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A OpacifyingViscosity increasing agentEmollientEmulsifyingSkin conditioningViscosity controlling Fungal-acne trigger
Triethanolamine
Fragrance, Ph adjuster
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 5 CIR B FragrancePh adjusterEmulsifyingSurfactantBuffering agentMasking
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Strong essential oil which can irritate skinRead moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B FragranceSkin conditioningMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin
Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1–2 Skin conditioning Good for Sensitive Skin
Allantoin
Skin conditioning, Skin protecting
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningSkin protectingSoothing Good for Oily SkinGood for Sensitive Skin

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Apply after toner and before moisturiser — thinnest to thickest.
  • 2 Evening, start slow: Best in the PM a few times a week to begin with; avoid layering with other strong actives the same night.
  • 3 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

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.

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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