Skin science article
Beekman 1802 Smooth Booster Willow Bark Exfoliating Serum Versus Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant
Beekman 1802 Smooth Booster Willow Bark Exfoliating Serum Versus Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant This oil-control serum is formulated around Salix Alba Bark Extract to balance excess oil. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid and
Beekman 1802 Smooth Booster Willow Bark Exfoliating Serum Versus Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant
This oil-control serum is formulated around Salix Alba Bark Extract to balance excess oil.
This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Glycerin
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Xanthan Gum
Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Curcuma Longa Leaf Extract
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Amber Powder
Lactic Acid
Sodium Benzoate
Sodium Levulinate
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Anisate
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Xanthan Gum, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Amber Powder, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Levulinate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Anisate
Butylene Glycol
Polysorbate 20
Cetyl Alcohol
Salicylic Acid
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cyclopentasiloxane
Sorbitan Stearate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Lauric Acid
Allantoin
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Epilobium Angustifolium Extract
Dimethicone
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Sodium Hydroxide
Hexylene Glycol
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Phenoxyethanol
Caprylyl Glycol
Water, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Cetyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sorbitan Stearate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lauric Acid, Allantoin, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
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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.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
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!
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.