Clinique Acne Solutions All-Over Clearing Treatment Versus Paula's Choice Clear Extra Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment With 5% Benzoyl Peroxide

Clinique Acne Solutions All-Over Clearing Treatment Versus Paula's Choice Clear Extra Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment With 5% Benzoyl Peroxide

This acne treatment is formulated around Benzoyl Peroxide and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to clear breakouts and balance excess oil.

This acne treatment is formulated around Benzoyl Peroxide to clear breakouts.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%

Water

Cyclopentasiloxane

Butylene Glycol

Cyclohexasiloxane

Ceteareth-20

Dimethicone

Sucrose

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Hordeum Vulgare Extract

Acetyl Glucosamine

Lactobacillus Ferment

Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract

Polymethyl Methacrylate

Laminaria Saccharina Extract

Gentiana Lutea Root Extract

Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter

Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer

Myristyl Alcohol

Glycerin

Zeolite

Algae Extract

Linoleic Acid

10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract

Caffeine

Cholesterol

Tocopheryl Acetate

Bisabolol

Polysorbate 80

Sodium Hyaluronate

Propylene Glycol Dicaprate

Capryloyl Glycine

Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract

Quaternium-22

Caprylyl Glycol

Isohexadecane

Xanthan Gum

Disodium EDTA

Chloroxylenol

Phenoxyethanol

CI 77891

Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ceteareth-20, Dimethicone, Sucrose, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Lactobacillus Ferment, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Myristyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Zeolite, Algae Extract, Linoleic Acid, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Cholesterol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Capryloyl Glycine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Quaternium-22, Caprylyl Glycol, Isohexadecane, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Chloroxylenol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891

Benzoyl Peroxide

Propylene Glycol

Allantoin

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Sodium Citrate

Laureth-4

Sodium Hydroxide

Hexylene Glycol

Water, Benzoyl Peroxide, Propylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Citrate, Laureth-4, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Hexylene Glycol, 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.

Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) is one of the most studied and widely used acne-fighting ingredients on the market for over five decades.

It works by releasing oxygen into your pores to kill Cutibacterium acne, or the bacteria closely linked to acne breakouts. This bacteria has a hard time surviving in an oxygen-rich environment.

On top of that, BPO has keratolytic properties to help shed dead skin cells and keep pores from getting clogged.

One of the coolest things about BPO is that bacteria do not develop resistance to it the way they can with antibiotics. That's why dermatologists recommend pairing it with topical antibiotics to keep resistance at bay.

BPO is usually available in 2.5%, 5%, and 10% concentrations. Research has shown that 2.5% tends to be just as effective as the higher strengths while being more gentle on the skin.

The FDA has classified BPO as a safe and effective acne treatment. You'll be able to find this ingredient in over-the-counter products in many countries.

Just so you know, BPO is a known mild irritant. It's common to see dryness, peeling, and some redness when you first start using it. This usually goes away as your skin adjusts.

A very small number of people might develop allergic contact dermatitis from it as patch test studies show positive reactions in about 1-5% of patients.

Once BPO is absorbed into the skin, our bodies turn it into benzoic acid and quickly exits in urine. It's also worth noting that BPO will bleach fabrics and hair, so watch your towels and pillowcases!

Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.

It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.

A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.

In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.

You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.

Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.

Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.

Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).

Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.

This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:

On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.

One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).

Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.

You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).

It 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.

On 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.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'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.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-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.

Adverse 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.

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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