B2B · Private-label formula option
Salicylic acid cleanser — private label & wholesale
Cosmetic-positioned salicylic acid cleanser developed as a private-label formula for brands, salons, retailers, and distributors. Gel or foam textures that cleanse, lift away excess oil and everyday dirt, and leave skin feeling fresh — Clearion Labs handles OEM development and wholesale supply, not consumer checkout.
Placeholder illustration · salicylic acid cleanser pump bottle
Sample-first
Approve before bulk
Quote ~24h
Business-day replies
Cosmetics compliance
Personal care framing
Export-ready
Packaging & logistics
What is a cosmetic salicylic acid cleanser?
A salicylic acid cleanser is a rinse-off face wash that includes salicylic acid — a beta hydroxy acid, which is why the category is also sold as a BHA cleanser or salicylic acid face wash. In a cosmetic program, the cleanser's job is simple: it cleanses the face, helps remove excess oil, makeup residue, and everyday dirt, and leaves skin feeling clean, balanced, and refreshed.
Because it is rinsed off within a minute or so, a salicylic acid cleanser is often the gentlest way for a brand to bring BHA into a routine. It suits shoppers who prefer a fresh, oil-free feel and pairs well with lightweight toners and hydrating serums.
Cosmetic positioning — what this program covers
Clearion Labs develops cosmetic-positioned cleansers. That means the label and marketing describe cleansing and skin feel only — for example "cleanses", "removes excess oil and dirt", "leaves skin feeling clean and refreshed", or "for normal to oily-feeling skin". The formula brief, artwork review, and claims checklist we supply are all built around that cosmetic scope.
We do not position these cleansers as products that address a skin condition, and our sampling and documentation package is not designed for drug registration. If your brand wants a different positioning, see the compliance section below before you brief.
Compliance: cosmetic vs OTC drug positioning
In the United States, a salicylic acid product whose labeling makes claims governed by the US over-the-counter (OTC) drug monograph for topical skin products is regulated as an OTC drug, not a cosmetic. OTC drug positioning brings its own requirements — Drug Facts labeling, drug establishment registration and listing, and monograph-specific active-ingredient rules.
Any OTC drug-claim positioning is outside our cosmetic program and requires the brand's own regulatory pathway and qualified adviser. Our cleansers are briefed, sampled, and documented as cosmetics only. In the EU, UK, and other markets, cosmetic rules set separate conditions and maximum levels for salicylic acid in rinse-off products, along with age-related and labeling conditions; these vary and are updated, so brands should confirm the current position for every destination with their regulatory adviser or Responsible Person before launch.
Concentration as a formulation choice
The salicylic acid level in a cleanser is a formulation choice made within the rules of each target market — not a performance promise. In the brief we agree a target level, the pH window that keeps the formula stable and comfortable in use, and the documentation your regulatory team needs to confirm compliance market by market. We do not publish dosing-style guidance; the final figure appears on the spec sheet and INCI list after your adviser signs off.
Formats & textures
- Gel cleanser — clear or lightly tinted gel; lathers lightly and rinses clean.
- Foam cleanser — cream-to-foam or pre-foamed via a foamer pump for an airy, cushioned lather.
- Pump bottle ~150–200 ml — the most requested retail format; foamer pumps available.
- Tube ~100–150 ml — travel-friendly, good for gift sets and salon retail.
- Minis ~30–50 ml — for sampling and kits.
Typical supporting ingredients include mild surfactants (amino-acid or glucoside types), glycerin, panthenol, allantoin, niacinamide, green tea or centella extracts, and zinc PCA for an oil-balanced feel. Fragrance-free and lightly scented versions can both be briefed.
Routine pairing: cleanser, toner pads, rice toner & HOCl mist
A salicylic acid cleanser is a natural first step in a Clearion Labs range. A simple four-step story for retail or salon take-home: cleanse with the salicylic acid cleanser, refresh with the hypochlorous acid spray facial mist, swipe a toner pad or apply rice toner for hydration, then finish with a ceramide moisturizer. Partners who want a serum step add a centella asiatica serum or peptide serum. Because all of these share one supplier, one artwork system, and one sampling round, range launches stay simple.
OEM private-label path
- Formula brief: texture, key ingredients, fragrance choice, target markets.
- Proposed INCI list and spec sheet for your review.
- Packaging: pump bottle, foamer pump, or tube, label, and carton artwork.
- Lab samples and revisions, then pilot or bulk production.
- MOQ quoted per SKU, based on formula and components.
A salicylic acid cleanser is a private-label formula option rather than a stock SKU, so each program starts from your brief. Raw-material documentation for salicylic acid (grade, supplier, certificates) and your target markets are confirmed at the brief stage so the cosmetic file is consistent from day one.
Wholesale reorders
Once a cleanser program is in production, salon groups, retailers, and distributors reorder on wholesale open-account terms with carton-based MOQ tiers and agreed lead times. Many partners order the cleanser together with toner pads or rice toner so the routine ships as a set.
Cosmetics disclaimer
Clearion Labs salicylic acid cleanser formulas are cosmetics / personal care: rinse-off face washes intended to cleanse and remove excess oil and dirt, leaving skin feeling clean and refreshed. They are not drugs or OTC drug products, make no disease-related or physiological claims, and are not offered for any clinic procedure. Drug-claim positioning requires the brand's own regulatory pathway. Partner claims must comply with the cosmetics regulations of each market.
FAQ
Salicylic acid cleanser FAQ
What is a salicylic acid cleanser in cosmetic terms?+
A cosmetic salicylic acid cleanser is a rinse-off gel or foam face wash containing salicylic acid (a BHA). It is positioned to cleanse, remove excess oil and dirt, and leave skin feeling clean and refreshed — a personal-care product, not a drug.
Can the label make drug claims?+
Not within our program. In the US, salicylic acid products with claims covered by the OTC drug monograph are regulated as OTC drugs. That positioning is outside our cosmetic program and requires the brand's own regulatory pathway.
What salicylic acid level can I use?+
The level is a formulation choice made within each market's cosmetic rules, which differ between the US, EU, UK, and other regions. Brands confirm the final level with their regulatory adviser; it is recorded on the spec sheet.
Which formats are available?+
Gel and foam cleansers in pump bottles (~150–200 ml, including foamer pumps), tubes (~100–150 ml), and minis for sampling. Packaging is quoted per SKU.
What is the MOQ?+
MOQ is quoted per SKU and depends on formula, packaging, and decoration. Samples come first; pilot runs can be discussed. Wholesale reorders follow open-account terms.
Inquiry
Request salicylic acid cleanser quote
Tell us your program needs — we typically reply within ~24 hours on business days.