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COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid vs Sunday Riley Good Genes: Which to Choose?

What is the difference between COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and Sunday Riley Good Genes?

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ProductKey ingredientsSkin type (brand)FragranceWorth knowingSizeSource
Betaine Salicylate (BHA)Brand doesn't saySold as fragrance freeNothing flagged100 mlBrand's page
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Lactic AcidBrand doesn't sayScent ingredients on the labelLimonene, Citral, Geraniol30 mlBrand's page
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These two exfoliating treatments use different acids and very different formulas. COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid is a short, water-thin list of 10 ingredients built on willow bark water and betaine salicylate, with no fragrance. Sunday Riley Good Genes lists 35 ingredients, uses lactic acid, has a cream-style base of oils and emulsifiers, and lists lemongrass oil with three fragrance allergens.

How the labels differ

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid lists 10 ingredients. Its top five are willow bark water, butylene glycol, betaine salicylate, niacinamide and 1,2-hexanediol. COSRX sells it as fragrance free, and the list contains no fragrance allergens. The bottle is 100 ml.

Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment lists 35 ingredients. Its top five are water, prickly pear (opuntia tuna) fruit extract, cypripedium pubescens extract, opuntia vulgaris leaf extract and agave leaf extract. Lactic acid is twelfth. It also lists arnica flower extract, aloe, squalane and licorice root extract. It lists lemongrass oil, citral, geraniol and limonene. The bottle is 30 ml.

The labels share 2 ingredients, butylene glycol and xanthan gum. Neither product file states a percentage for its acid or names skin types.

Which to choose

From each brand's published ingredient list; see the product pages for sources. We haven't tested either product.

Common questions

Which acid does each one use?

COSRX lists betaine salicylate, a BHA, as its headline active. Sunday Riley Good Genes lists lactic acid, an AHA. Neither product file states a percentage for its acid.

Which one lists fragrance ingredients?

Good Genes lists lemongrass oil plus citral, geraniol and limonene. The COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid lists no fragrance, essential oils or fragrance allergens.

Do they share ingredients?

Only two ingredients appear on both labels: butylene glycol and xanthan gum.