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G.M. Collin Hyaluronic Filler Serum Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

G.M. Collin Hyaluronic Filler Serum Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate skin and soften the look of wrinkles. This smoothing exfoli

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

G.M. Collin Hyaluronic Filler Serum Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate skin 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

C15-19 Alkane

Glycerin

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate

Pentylene Glycol

Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Propanediol

Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract

Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract

Sodium Polyglutamate

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Caprylhydroxamic Acid

Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Methylglucoside Phosphate

Sodium PCA

Copper Lysinate/Prolinate

Plankton Extract

Apium Graveolens Seed Extract

Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Glucomannan

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Phenoxyethanol

Tocopherol

1,2-Hexanediol

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Butylene Glycol

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate

Acacia Senegal Gum

Xanthan Gum

Sodium Lactate

Parfum

Ethylene Brassylate

Trihydroxystearin

Sorbitan Trioleate

Carbomer

Sclerotium Gum

Lecithin

Polysorbate 20

Pullulan

Caprylyl Glycol

Silica

Glyceryl Caprylate

Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer

Phenylpropanol

Polyvinyl Alcohol

Water, C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Propanediol, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Sodium Polyglutamate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Sodium PCA, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Plankton Extract, Apium Graveolens Seed Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Glucomannan, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lactate, Parfum, Ethylene Brassylate, Trihydroxystearin, Sorbitan Trioleate, Carbomer, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Polysorbate 20, Pullulan, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Phenylpropanol, Polyvinyl Alcohol

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

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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.

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.

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. 03Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
  4. 04Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
  5. 05However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
  6. 06Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
  7. 07In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
  8. 08While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
  9. 09Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
  10. 10Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
  11. 11However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's…
  12. 12Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
  13. 13Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
  14. 14Your 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.
  15. 15Aquaporin-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.
  16. 16This 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.
  17. 17Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
  18. 18Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
  19. 19Isohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
  20. 20Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
02

Product index

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03

Comparison edit

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