By WishTrend Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water Versus Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant

By WishTrend Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water Versus Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant

This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Mandelic Acid and Beta-Glucan to refine skin texture and calm redness.

This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Mandelic Acid

Butylene Glycol

Beta-Glucan

Panthenol

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Centella Asiatica Extract

Sorbitan Sesquioleate

Sorbitol

Glycerin

Houttuynia Cordata Extract

Chlorphenesin

Dimethyl Sulfone

Arginine

Sodium Citrate

Carbomer

Ethylhexylglycerin

PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

1,2-Hexanediol

Natto Gum

Water, Mandelic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Chlorphenesin, Dimethyl Sulfone, Arginine, Sodium Citrate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Natto Gum

Glycolic Acid

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Sodium Hydroxide

Beheneth-5

Dimethicone

Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate

Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate

Behenyl Alcohol

Undecane

Arachidyl Alcohol

Stearyl Alcohol

Cetyl Alcohol

Phospholipids

Allantoin

Tocopheryl Acetate

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Bisabolol

Arctium Lappa Seed Oil

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Sodium Acrylates Copolymer

Tridecane

Hydrogenated Polydecene

Sclerotium Gum

Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate

Disodium EDTA

Tocopherol

Benzoic Acid

Sorbic Acid

Phenoxyethanol

Water, Glycolic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Beheneth-5, Dimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Undecane, Arachidyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Phospholipids, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Tridecane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sclerotium Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.

Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.

Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.

Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

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.

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

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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