Yes, salicylic acid is a highly effective and usually gentle acne fighter, but it can still be harsh on sensitive skin in high concentrations (and yes, it’s possible to have sensitive skin and acne). That’s why this cleanser stands out. “It was designed to address the needs of people with sensitive skin,” says Dr. Zeichner. “It combines salicylic acid with mandelic acid and gluconolactone. This triple combination provides effective exfoliation without causing skin irritation.” To go even further, also included in the formula is niacinamide and panthenol, both of which help to soothe and calm skin and, in this case, help to curb any potential irritation that may be caused by the acids.

Without knowing the actual percentage of salicylic acid in the formula, we assume it’s on the low side, but that’s expected given it’s combined with other exfoliating acids in this formula. That’s where the secret comes from and what makes it so effective. The three exfoliators work together to effectively exfoliate your skin without irritating it, plus the additional ingredients like niacinamide further help keep your skin calm. We found that even using this every day never made our skin feel irritated or stripped and, in fact, left it feeling deeply clean but still soft and smooth. After a few days of using it, there was a noticeable brightness to our skin and our redness decreased as well.

As Dr. Zeichner puts it, “This cleanser was designed to address the needs of people with sensitive skin. It combines salicylic acid with mandelic acid and gluconolactone. This triple combination provides effective exfoliation without causing skin irritation.”