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FaceTheory Saliatica 2% BHA Toner T6 Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

FaceTheory Saliatica 2% BHA Toner T6 Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant This acne exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Lactic Acid to clear breakouts and refine skin texture. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated arou

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

FaceTheory Saliatica 2% BHA Toner T6 Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

This acne exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Lactic Acid to clear breakouts and refine skin texture.

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

Propanediol

Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine

Glycerin

Salicylic Acid

Lactic Acid

Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Sodium Hydroxide

Polylysine

Water, Propanediol, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Polylysine

Methylpropanediol

Butylene Glycol

Polysorbate 20

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.

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.

Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.

Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

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!

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The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

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

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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. 03Acacia Senegal Gum has skin soothing, thickening, and formulation stabilizing properties. It comes from the Acacia tree that is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
  4. 04This is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
  5. 05It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
  6. 06Polyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
  7. 07You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
  8. 08Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
  9. 09The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
  10. 10Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids an…
  11. 11Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
  12. 12In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
  13. 13Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
  14. 14Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
  15. 15As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
  16. 16In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
  17. 17Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
  18. 18Triethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.
  19. 19Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.
  20. 20This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
02

Product index

Related product references

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Paula's Choice The Unscrub Paula's Choice The Unscrub ingredients explained: Aqua, Jojoba Esters (Cleansing Beads), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Skin-Replenishing), Glycerin (Skin Replenis…

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Comparison edit

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