DHC Salicylic Acne Wash
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.
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.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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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
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant) |
Sulfate
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Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Cocamidopropyl Betaine
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Glycol Distearate
(Opacifying, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Cocamide MEA
(Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Triethanolamine
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Polyethylene
(Abrasive, Adhesive, Binding Agent, Bulking Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Oral Care Agentagent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Film Forming, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Steareth-20
(Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Sensitive Skin
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Houttuynia Cordata Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
(Tonic) |
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Royal Jelly Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
(Astringent, Humectant, Soothing) |
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Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
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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.
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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