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Be The Skin BHA+ Pore Zero 30 Second Exfoliator Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Be The Skin BHA+ Pore Zero 30 Second Exfoliator Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant This oil-control exfoliator is formulated around Cellulose and Salix Alba Bark Water to balance excess oil. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated ar

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Be The Skin BHA+ Pore Zero 30 Second Exfoliator Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

This oil-control exfoliator is formulated around Cellulose and Salix Alba Bark Water to balance excess oil.

This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

No key ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Cellulose

Butylene Glycol

Alcohol

Glycerin

Salix Alba Bark Water

Sorbitol

1,2-Hexanediol

Arginine

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Water, Cellulose, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Glycerin, Salix Alba Bark Water, Sorbitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Methylpropanediol

Salicylic Acid

Polysorbate 20

Camellia Oleifera Leaf

Sodium Hydroxide

Tetrasodium EDTA

Water, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Camellia Oleifera Leaf, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA

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Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

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The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

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Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Explained

  1. 01These ingredients are found in both products.
  2. 02Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
  3. 03Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
  4. 04It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
  5. 05On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
  6. 06Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
  7. 07You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
  8. 08Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
  9. 09Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
  10. 10Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
  11. 11Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
  12. 12In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
  13. 13Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
  14. 14Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
  15. 15Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
  16. 16You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
  17. 17Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
  18. 18You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damag…
  19. 19Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
  20. 20It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
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Product index

Related product references

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Comparison edit

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