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Why can’t I put my foot product on my face?


Miniature muses…Skin Laboratory has a Salicylic Acid Peel (okay to put on your face). Dr. Scholl’s has a Liquid Corn and Callus Remover (not okay to put on your face). Obviously, both have a high amount of Salicylic Acid, but other than that, I was curious to know which ingredients make the first alright to put on your face, and the second a serious mistake. Any ideas?

The Beauty Brains respond

Here are the ingredients for the two products in question:

Skin Laboratory Salicylic Acid Peel ingredients

Salicylic Acid (20%), Propylene Glycol, Denatured alcohol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth 7.

Dr. Scholl’s Liquid Corn and Callus Remover ingredients

Salicylic Acid (17% w/w), Castor (Ricinus Communis) Seed Oil, Ethyl Lactate, Flexible Collodion, Polybutene, Alcohol (18% v/v), Ether (53% v/v from flexible collodion)

You’re right in that both look similar in the salicylic acid concentration. But the big difference is in how the products are intended to be used. The Skin Laboratories product is designed to be spread all over your face; the Dr. Scholl’s is designed as a spot treatment for a callus or corn on your foot. That’s where the “Collodion” ingredient comes in.

Callus concern

Collodion is a polymer that forms a very tough, flexible film on your skin. That’s perfect when you want to seal an active ingredient into the skin in a very localized area, like on a callus. The film keeps the active ingredient concentrated on the very tough, dead skin of the callus.

That’s NOT a good idea when you want to treat breakouts all over your face. The film could cause the acid to burn the more delicate skin of the face. Plus, the film would sort of feel like wearing a bandage on your face. (Also all that alcohol and ether isn’t ideal for a facial product. I can imagine you passing out after applying to much ether so close to your nose. LOL.)

The Beauty Brains bottom line

Even though it may not be apparent to the casual reader, there is a very good reason why the Scholl’s product should only be used as directed: on the feet!

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • gabis January 10, 2015, 6:17 pm

    That’s a great question. I get myself thinking the same sometimes about some products. I do not put body products on my face but I have no problem using a hand moisturizer on my feet/body and vice versa for instance.

  • Mbot July 6, 2017, 11:40 am

    Late to the party, but: I have only just experienced the part of adult life where I now have corns (eesh!) on my feet, and in buying some dr. scholl’s corn remover today, I was in fact wondering how this differed from a facial salicylic acid peel. Thank you!

  • frank September 13, 2017, 1:24 am

    Do not put corn removal liquid on your face… I did that.. it damaged all my face blood vessels. My face now look like an old man face…

  • prior September 18, 2017, 12:23 pm

    I went for laser hair removal and under my lower lip line there is permanent hard swollen line also under lower lip one side has swollen lifted up skin with light color than my skin. It looks odd some days my lip look out of shape too. Should i use Dr scrolls wart remover to remove that so that smooth skin should appear any idea?