1% Salicylic Acid Gel Face Wash with Witch Hazel
A cleansers without fragrance or essential oils reviewed for ingredient safety and formula logic.
- Skincare beginners
- Enlarged pores and uneven texture
₹299 · ₹3/ml • Analysed 5 June 2026
A daily BHA gel cleanser with Salicylic Acid at 1% (lower than the 2% Sali-Cinamide formula), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, and Salix Alba (Willow Bark) Extract as a natural BHA source providing tannins and salicin. The formula uses Sodium Alpha Olefin Sulfonate as the primary surfactant — a petroleum-derived anionic surfactant that is more irritating than taurate or amino acid-based alternatives. PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate is a PEG compound acting as a viscosity modifier. Sodium Lactate at position 6 adds NMF-component humectant benefit. Overall a functional everyday acne cleanser, but the surfactant choice limits its rating compared to the brand's Sali-Cinamide formula.
This is a web evidence review, not a Clean Sheet certification. We checked the ingredient list, publicly available test reports, marketing claims, and formula logic using only public information available at the time of review.
At a glance
What was checked
Each claim checked against publicly available evidence: published test reports, the ingredient list, and regulatory data.
No fragrance of any kind found in the INCI. No parfum, no essential oils, no Benzyl Alcohol.
Score breakdown
How this product was rated across four areas. Open any row for the full rationale.
Ingredient SafetyStrong38/50Salicylic Acid at 1% is mild and appropriate for daily use, even for moderately sensitive acne-prone skin.
Salicylic Acid at 1% is mild and appropriate for daily use, even for moderately sensitive acne-prone skin. Sodium Alpha Olefin Sulfonate (AOS) is the primary surfactant — it is more drying and potentially more irritating than taurate, amphoacetate, or glucoside alternatives used in the brand's Sali-Cinamide wash. For daily twice-daily use, this could cause cumulative dryness and barrier disruption for some users. Cocamide MEA is a cocamide that has some historical debate around nitrosamine formation (though the EU has restricted certain forms; Cocamide MEA is generally permitted in the current regulatory framework). Witch Hazel extract contains tannins with mild astringent action. Triethylene Glycol at position 15 is a solvent with low concern.
Formula DesignStrong16/20Salicylic Acid at 1% provides mild BHA exfoliation appropriate for daily use and less experienced users.
Salicylic Acid at 1% provides mild BHA exfoliation appropriate for daily use and less experienced users. Willow Bark Extract contains salicin and tannins that complement SA's action. Witch Hazel adds astringent and anti-inflammatory benefit. Sodium Lactate (NMF component) offsets some drying effect. The addition of Coco-Glucoside as a co-surfactant improves mildness. However, the dominant AOS surfactant limits how gentle this formula can be.
Claims EvidenceStrong16/20Good evidence for stated claims based on public information.
1% Salicylic Acid is brand-confirmed. Full INCI accessible. The brand does not call out AOS as the primary surfactant in consumer-facing materials — an omission worth noting given its comparatively higher drying potential. Witch Hazel and Willow Bark are named.
Ethics & SustainabilityFair5/10Cruelty-free Indian brand.
Cruelty-free Indian brand. AOS is petroleum-derived. Coco-Glucoside is plant-derived. Disodium EDTA used as chelating agent. No synthetic fragrance.
Ingredient list
16 ingredients · INCI order
| Ingredient |
|---|
Aqua |
Sodium Alpha Olefin Sulfonate |
Cocamidopropyl Betaine |
Glycerin |
Cocamide MEA |
Sodium Lactate |
Salicylic Acid |
Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract |
Show all 16 ingredientsShow fewer
Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract |
Coco-Glucoside |
Glyceryl Oleate |
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate |
Sodium Chloride |
Phenoxyethanol |
Triethylene Glycol |
Disodium EDTA |
INCI order as declared on packaging. Position reflects approximate concentration (high to low).
Consumer reviews
This is a web evidence review, not a Clean Sheet certification. We checked the ingredient list, publicly available test reports, marketing claims, and formula logic using only public information available at the time of review.
Full methodology
- What global regulations say about each ingredient
- What toxicology evidence shows at cosmetic concentrations
- What formula concentration context changes
- What the product format and leave-on contact time changes
- What the stated user group needs
- What published test evidence confirms
- What the brand is claiming vs what evidence supports
1% SA daily cleanser is appropriate for Indian oily-to-combination skin types seeking a gentle daily BHA option without the potency of 2% formulas. The Witch Hazel adds a mild astringent quality suitable for monsoon season when pores appear more enlarged.
