All scans / Cleansers / PanOxyl Acne Gel Wash
PanOxyl Acne Gel Wash ingredients: is it worth it?
This is an acne cleanser with a serious identity problem: the claimed 2% salicylic acid is missing from the supplied INCI, while a potentially stripping sulfonate sits in the formula.
This is an acne cleanser with a serious identity problem: the claimed 2% salicylic acid is missing from the supplied INCI, while a potentially stripping sulfonate sits in the formula.
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The efficacy score is 3.0/5 because the verified list contains no salicylic acid or other proven contact acne active, and the rinse-off format would limit leave-on treatment benefits anyway; humectants and zinc PCA may support comfort and oil management, but they do not rescue the formula. The safety score is reduced because Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is listed as the primary surfactant, despite the presence of milder supporting surfactants and no declared fragrance. Official and regulatory listings identify this product as a 2% salicylic-acid acne wash, creating a material mismatch with the provided INCI.
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DemythSkin rates PanOxyl Acne Gel Wash 3.4/5 for efficacy and 4.0/5 for safety.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BY TIER
Gold Standards
High clinical proof | Skin-transformativeReliable
Proven resultsPotent
Developing evidenceOverhyped | Marketing
Hype | Limited dataDocumented Irritants
Evidence-backed flagFORMULATION BASE (8)⌄
FULL INGREDIENT LIST⌄
Aqua, Betaine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, PEG-150 Disterate, Potassium Sorbate, Saccaride Isomerate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Spirulina Plantensis Extract, Zinc PCA
WHAT EACH INGREDIENT DOES (18)⌄
- Aqua
- Formula solvent
- Betaine
- Humectant and skin conditioner
- Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
- Botanical antioxidant extract
- Caprylyl Glycol
- Humectant and preservative booster
- Citric Acid
- pH adjuster
- Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
- Secondary cleansing surfactant
- Decyl Glucoside
- Nonionic cleansing surfactant
- Glycerin
- Humectant moisturizer
- PEG-150 Disterate
- Thickener and stabilizer
- Potassium Sorbate
- Preservative
- Saccaride Isomerate
- Long-lasting humectant
- Sodium Benzoate
- Preservative
- Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
- Primary cleansing surfactant
- Sodium Chloride
- Viscosity adjuster
- Sodium Citrate
- Buffering agent
- Sodium Hydroxide
- pH adjuster
- Spirulina Plantensis Extract
- Botanical conditioning extract
- Zinc PCA
- Sebum-regulating conditioner
EXTERNAL CITATIONS
Salicylic Acid: DailyMed lists PanOxyl Acne Gel Wash as containing salicylic acid at 2%.
Zinc PCA: Zinc PCA is included in the supplied verified INCI as an oil-conditioning ingredient.
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate: The supplied verified INCI lists Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate in position 13.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ANALYSIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. AI-GENERATED DATA BASED ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INGREDIENT LISTS. VERIFY WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
A cheaper cleanser that scores as high or higher
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PanOxyl Acne Gel Wash: common questions
Is PanOxyl Acne Gel Wash worth it?
PanOxyl Acne Gel Wash scores 3.4 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Mid) and 4.0 out of 5.0 for safety (Gentle) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. This is an acne cleanser with a serious identity problem: the claimed 2% salicylic acid is missing from the supplied INCI, while a potentially stripping sulfonate sits in the formula.
What are the key active ingredients in PanOxyl Acne Gel Wash?
PanOxyl Acne Gel Wash contains no gold-standard actives. Its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.
Does PanOxyl Acne Gel Wash contain fragrance or known irritants?
DemythSkin flags these ingredients in PanOxyl Acne Gel Wash as documented irritants: Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate.
How is PanOxyl Acne Gel Wash scored?
DemythSkin grades every product on two independent scores: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are graded S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. Brand and price are not part of the score, and no brand pays for one.
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