Skin science article
Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant This smoothing serum is formulated around Lactic Acid and Sh-Oligopeptide-1 to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles. This smoothi
Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
This smoothing serum is formulated around Lactic Acid and Sh-Oligopeptide-1 to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles.
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
Glycerin
Lactic Acid
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Squalane
Sodium Hydroxide
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Sodium PCA
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Tocotrienols
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Tripeptide-1
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Propanediol
Sodium Hyaluronate
Panthenol
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Sodium Lactate
PCA
Alanine
Arginine
Glycine
Histidine
Isoleucine
Phenylalanine
Proline
Serine
Threonine
Valine
Adenosine
Nymphaea Alba Root Extract
Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract
Dextran
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Linoleic Acid
Linolenic Acid
Butylene Glycol
Acetyl Glutamine
Coconut Alkanes
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Pentylene Glycol
Isomalt
Lecithin
Xanthan Gum
Aspartic Acid
Phytosphingosine
Phospholipids
Glycine Soja Sterols
Tocopherol
Citric Acid
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Phenoxyethanol
Sodium Benzoate
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
Polysorbate 20
Caprylyl Glycol
Phenylpropanol
Chlorphenesin
Carbomer
Glyceryl Caprylate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Water, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Squalane, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Sodium PCA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Tocotrienols, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Tripeptide-1, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Valine, Adenosine, Nymphaea Alba Root Extract, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract, Dextran, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Glutamine, Coconut Alkanes, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Pentylene Glycol, Isomalt, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Aspartic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Phospholipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Methylpropanediol
Salicylic Acid
Camellia Oleifera Leaf
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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
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!