Smart Product Comparator

How the product comparator works

Switching products, or deciding between two you already own? Paste each product's ingredient list — or upload a photo of the label — and AllerNote reads both, names every ingredient in plain English, and lines them up side by side. You see which ingredients the two share, which are unique to each, and which are common irritants or fragrance allergens worth a second look.

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COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser vsVanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser

Cleanser18% shared ingredients

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CeraVe Moisturizing Cream vsCOSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream

Moisturizer21% shared ingredients

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COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream vsNeutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream

Moisturizer17% shared ingredients

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COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser vsLa Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Cleanser

Cleanser15% shared ingredients

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Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser vsLa Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Cleanser

Cleanser28% shared ingredients

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COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream vsThe Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA

Moisturizer15% shared ingredients

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Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant vsThe Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution

Exfoliator20% shared ingredients

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COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ vsLa Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid Facial Sunscreen SPF50+

Sunscreen16% shared ingredients

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CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum vsVichy Mineral 89 Fortifying and Plumping Daily Booster

Serum16% shared ingredients

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CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum vsLa Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Face Serum with Hyaluronic Acid

Serum20% shared ingredients

How to compare two skincare products, step by step

1. Grab both ingredient lists. Paste the INCI list from each packaging, or photograph the label — the comparator reads either format.
2. Name each product (optional). Labeling them helps you read the side-by-side results at a glance, but it isn't required.
3. Run the comparison. AllerNote identifies every ingredient in both formulas and lines them up: shared, only-in-A, and only-in-B.
4. Check the flagged irritants. Common irritants and fragrance allergens are called out in each product, not just listed.
5. Match against your allergens. Sign in with a saved allergen profile and any matching ingredient in either product is highlighted directly.

Compare cosmetic formulas side by side

Two products can look almost identical on the front of the bottle and be very different underneath. The comparator surfaces those differences: a "fragrance-free" claim that still hides parfum, a gentler cleanser that swaps a harsh sulfate for a mild surfactant, or a moisturiser that adds a preservative you react to. Sign in and add your allergens to highlight any ingredient in either product that matches your own profile.

Common mistakes when comparing ingredients

• Comparing marketing claims, not ingredients. "Gentle" and "dermatologist-tested" aren't regulated terms — the INCI list is the only reliable comparison.
• Ignoring ingredient order. INCI lists are ranked by concentration, so the same ingredient near the top of one formula and the bottom of another behaves very differently.
• Missing synonyms. Fragrance allergens and preservatives often appear under multiple INCI names — the comparator matches these automatically so a swapped name doesn't slip through.
• Assuming fewer ingredients means safer. A short list can still contain a single ingredient you react to; total count matters less than what's flagged.

Frequently asked questions

Browse by category

Looking for products without a specific allergen? Fragrance-free picks, browse common allergens, or read more on ingredient safety in our Learn hub.