BCL AHA Cleansing Research Soap is a cleanser with 42 ingredients. It is rated "use caution" in pregnancy because it contains salicylic acid; ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate. Common allergens: fragrance, essential oils, alcohol denat.
Sensitive skin: fragrance, essential oils, alcohol denat. Why?
- fragrance: Fragrance or parfum, and scent ingredients listed by name, such as linalool and limonene. The most common cause of skincare allergies; worth avoiding if you have eczema, rosacea, or very sensitive skin.
- essential oils: Plant oils such as tea tree, lavender, citrus peel, and peppermint. Natural, but a common cause of irritation and allergies, especially on sensitive or broken skin.
- alcohol denat.: Denatured alcohol, which helps products feel light and dry fast but can dry out or sting dry and sensitive skin. Fatty alcohols like cetyl alcohol are different and aren't flagged.
These flags don't affect the pregnancy rating. They point out the ingredients most likely to make skincare sting, itch, or cause a rash. If your skin is sensitive, or one of them has bothered you before, you may want to skip the product or patch-test it first. Most people use them without a problem.
How we flag ingredientsWhat does it do?
A cleanser washes away dirt, oil, sunscreen, and makeup.
Based on its ingredients, it's made to:
Helps with pimples and clogged pores
Ingredients used to clear breakouts and keep pores from clogging.
From tea tree leaf oil (no. 12), salicylic acid (no. 37)
Exfoliates
Loosens dead skin cells so skin looks smoother and brighter. Use it a few times a week, not every day, if your skin is sensitive.
From papain (no. 16), glycolic acid (no. 24), lactic acid (no. 32), salicylic acid (no. 37)
Evens out skin tone
Used to fade dark spots and marks and even out skin tone over time.
From glycolic acid (no. 24)
Hydrates
Draws water into the skin, so it feels plumper and less tight.
Controls oil and shine
Helps absorb or balance oil, for a less shiny look.
From kaolin (no. 23)
Worked out from the ingredient list. Labels don't show amounts, so how well it works depends on the formula and your skin.
Is BCL AHA Cleansing Research Soap safe to use during pregnancy?
Jouaxia rates BCL AHA Cleansing Research Soap "Use caution" for pregnancy because it contains salicylic acid. Salicylic acid / BHA: ACOG says over-the-counter salicylic acid products may be used if needed, but absorption rises with frequent use or large areas; avoid high-strength peels (MotherToBaby/ACOG, Bozzo et al. 2011). ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate. Chemical sunscreen filter with limited pregnancy data: Not known to harm a pregnancy but not well studied, and absorbed into the bloodstream in FDA studies; mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) stay on the skin and are a lower-absorption choice (MotherToBaby, Matta et al. 2020). This is general information, not medical advice. Check with your OB-GYN or dermatologist.
Does BCL AHA Cleansing Research Soap contain fragrance or other common allergens?
Yes. BCL AHA Cleansing Research Soap contains fragrance, essential oils, alcohol denat, which can bother sensitive skin. This doesn't affect its pregnancy rating, and most people use these ingredients without a problem; if your skin is sensitive or you've reacted to one before, patch-test it first or look for an alternative.
Is it OK for kids and teens?
Kids (ages 3–11)
Use with care
- Acne treatment (salicylic acid): Benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and adapalene treat acne well, but for children under 12 it's best to check with a doctor first, and to start gently.
- Exfoliating acid (AHA) (glycolic acid, lactic acid): Glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids can irritate young skin, and children rarely need them. We can't see the strength, so low amounts are flagged too.
- Fragrance or essential oils (fragrance, tea tree leaf oil): Children's skin reacts to fragrance and essential oils more easily; fragrance-free products are the usual advice for kids, especially with eczema or sensitive skin.
Teens (ages 12–17)
Use with care
- Exfoliating acid (AHA) (glycolic acid, lactic acid): Glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids can irritate, especially alongside acne treatments. Fine for some teens, used a few times a week.
- Essential oils (tea tree leaf oil): A known cause of allergic skin reactions, such as to lavender and tea tree oils.
Helps with acne: salicylic acid.
General guidance from the ingredient list, not medical advice. For babies under 3, or skin problems that don't get better, ask a doctor. How we rate for kids and teens · Skincare for teens
What are the ingredients in BCL AHA Cleansing Research Soap?
42 ingredients. The ones we flag come first, with their place on the label. Select an ingredient to see what it does.
salicylic acid no. 37 on the label
Use caution in pregnancy: Salicylic acid / BHA. ACOG says over-the-counter salicylic acid products may be used if needed, but absorption rises with frequent use or large areas; avoid high-strength peels (MotherToBaby/ACOG, Bozzo et al. 2011).
ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate no. 39 on the label
Use caution in pregnancy: Chemical sunscreen filter with limited pregnancy data. Not known to harm a pregnancy but not well studied, and absorbed into the bloodstream in FDA studies; mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) stay on the skin and are a lower-absorption choice (MotherToBaby, Matta et al. 2020).
fragrance no. 9 on the label
Sensitive skin: fragrance.
tea tree leaf oil no. 12 on the label
Sensitive skin: essential oils.
ethanol no. 21 on the label
Sensitive skin: alcohol denat..
37 other ingredients: nothing flaggedShow
- 1.Potassium-containing soap base
- 2.water
- 3.sucrose
- 4.maltitol
- 5.glycerin
- 6.PEG-30 hydrogenated castor oil
- 7.sorbitol
- 8.sodium lauroamphoacetate
- 10.glycyrrhizic acid 2K
- 11.tea leaf extract
- 13.Dokudami extract
- 14.tocopherol
- 15.carrot Root extract
- 16.papain
- 17.Moroccan lava clay
- 18.apple fruit extract
- 19.malic acid
- 20.PEG-90M
- 22.ethyl cellulose
- 23.kaolin
- 24.glycolic acid
- 25.silica
- 26.soybean oil
- 27.sodium pyrosulfite
- 28.maltodextrin (derived from wheat)
- 29.lauroyl lysine
- 30.sodium chloride
- 31.synthetic wax
- 32.lactic acid
- 33.BHT
- 34.EDTA-3Na
- 35.t-butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane
- 36.TEA
- 38.polyquaternium-22
- 40.iron oxide
- 41.red 227
- 42.green 201
Ingredient list from YesStyle. Formulas change, so check the packaging of the product you buy.