Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Skin science article

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant This anti-aging serum is formulated around Squalane to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated aro

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Squalane to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

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

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Cetearyl Isononanoate

Glycerin

Isononyl Isononanoate

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Pentylene Glycol

PPG-3 Myristyl Ether

Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer

Dipsacus Sylvestris Extract

Butylene Glycol

Parfum

Phenoxyethanol

Propanediol

Tromethamine

Silybum Marianum Seed Oil

Carbomer

Tocopheryl Acetate

Escin

Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract

Ethylhexylglycerin

Squalane

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Theobroma Cacao Extract

Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer

Leontopodium Alpinum Extract

Xanthan Gum

Persea Gratissima Oil Unsaponifiables

Caramel

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine

Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract

Salicornia Herbacea Extract

Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract

Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract

Sodium Benzoate

Citric Acid

Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract

Disodium EDTA

Tocopherol

Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract

Maltodextrin

Orthosiphon Stamineus Extract

Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract

Mangifera Indica Leaf Extract

Potassium Sorbate

Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate

Jania Rubens Extract

Ascorbic Acid

Sodium Citrate

Engelhardtia Chrysolepis Leaf Extract

CI 14700

Callicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract

Water, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, PPG-3 Myristyl Ether, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Dipsacus Sylvestris Extract, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Escin, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Squalane, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Xanthan Gum, Persea Gratissima Oil Unsaponifiables, Caramel, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Orthosiphon Stamineus Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Mangifera Indica Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Jania Rubens Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Engelhardtia Chrysolepis Leaf Extract, CI 14700, Callicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract

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

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.

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!

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

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

01

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. 03Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
  4. 04Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
  5. 05Your 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.
  6. 06Aquaporin-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.
  7. 07This 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.
  8. 08Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
  9. 09Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
  10. 10Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with tons of research backing its benefits.
  11. 11It is found naturally in sugar cane but the form used in skincare is usually synthetic for purity and stability.
  12. 12Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells to allow newer and fresher ones to emerge.
  13. 13AHAs work by breaking down the structural “glue” that holds old skin cells in place. When that buildup is gone, your skin can renew itself more efficiently.
  14. 14Research also shows glycolic acid stimulates collagen production, helping to firm and thicken the skin over time. This is one of its biggest advantages over other AHAs.
  15. 15Overall, glycolic acid helps with:
  16. 16Fun fact: Glycolic acid boosts skin hydration by helping it produce molecules that increase hyaluronic acid naturally.
  17. 17To work best, glycolic acid products should have a pH between 3-4 (that’s where exfoliation is most effective but still gentle on skin).
  18. 18The pH and concentration of a product are key to its effectiveness:
  19. 19It is normal to feel a slight stinging sensation when using glycolic acid. This usually fades as your skin adjusts.
  20. 20Because glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in the AHA family, it can penetrate deeper, which enhances its effectiveness but also makes it more likely to irritate sensitive skin.
Source · skinsort.com
02

Product index

Related product references

03

Comparison edit

Read side by side