Skin science article
Estée Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Estée Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant This pore-care serum is formulated around Acetyl Glucosamine and Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract to refine the look of pores. This smoothing exf
Estée Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
This pore-care serum is formulated around Acetyl Glucosamine and Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract to refine the look of pores.
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
Cyclopentasiloxane
Dimethicone
Polysilicone-11
Acetyl Glucosamine
Sodium Lactate
Morus Nigra Root Extract
Faex Extract
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder
Caffeine
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Tocopheryl Acetate
Salvia Sclarea Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Coriandrum Sativum Oil
Citrus Grandis
Cholesterol
Glycerin
Ethylhexylglycerin
Squalane
Polyethylene
Isopentyldiol
Phenyl Trimethicone
Isohexadecane
Polysorbate 20
Pantethine
Methyldihydrojasmonate
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polysorbate 80
PEG-8
Ethyl 2,2-Dimethylhydrocinnamal
Phospholipids
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Butylene Glycol
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Sodium Glycinate
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Chlorphenesin
Phenoxyethanol
Limonene
Linalool
CI 77491
CI 77492
CI 77499
Mica
CI 77891
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Lactate, Morus Nigra Root Extract, Faex Extract, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Caffeine, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Coriandrum Sativum Oil, Citrus Grandis, Cholesterol, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Squalane, Polyethylene, Isopentyldiol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 20, Pantethine, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, PEG-8, Ethyl 2,2-Dimethylhydrocinnamal, Phospholipids, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Butylene Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Sodium Glycinate, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Mica, CI 77891
Methylpropanediol
Salicylic Acid
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.
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.
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!