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Hanskin Hyaluron Exfoliating AHA Treatment Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Hanskin Hyaluron Exfoliating AHA Treatment Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. This smoothing exfoliat

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Hanskin Hyaluron Exfoliating AHA Treatment Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.

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

Glycolic Acid

Lactic Acid

Sodium Hydroxide

Glycerin

Pentylene Glycol

Propanediol

1,2-Hexanediol

Panthenol

Sodium PCA

PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Caprylyl Glycol

Xanthan Gum

Ethylhexylglycerin

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Disodium EDTA

Benzyl Glycol

Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans

Sodium Hyaluronate

Tocopherol

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate

Hyaluronic Acid

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Water, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Disodium EDTA, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Methylpropanediol

Butylene Glycol

Salicylic Acid

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.

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.

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. 03Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
  4. 04As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
  5. 05It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
  6. 06A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
  7. 07This ingredient is also known as oxybenzone, and is one of the older organic UV filters. Its main job is sitting in the oil phase and soaking up UV photons (primarily UVB with some short-wave UVA II range).
  8. 08At low levels, oxybenzone also pulls double duty as a formula stabilizer that protects fragrance and colorants from fading in the light.
  9. 09On concentrations:
  10. 10So why did the EU cut back on how much you can use?
  11. 11It comes down to absorption. Oxybenzone passes through skin more easily than other filters.
  12. 12When the FDA tested sunscreens, every filter showed up in people's blood above the level where the agency wants extra safety testing done. But Oxybenzone showed up at by far the highest levels of the bunch.
  13. 13To be clear, the FDA's point was that we need more research and not that the ingredient is dangerous. They also said to keep using sunscreen.
  14. 14That high absorption, plus some animal studies pointing to effects on reproduction, is why EU regulators labeled Benzophenone-3 a hormone disruptor in 2025. An official classification is expected to follow in 2026.
  15. 15It's also the most common photoallergen among sunscreen filters so it's a more frequent cause of contact/photoallergic dermatitis than most alternatives.
  16. 16Places like Hawaii and Palau have also banned it over coral-reef concerns.
  17. 17Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
  18. 18It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
  19. 19This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
  20. 20Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
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