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InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant This brightening serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

This brightening serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.

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

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil

Hamamelis Virginiana Extract

Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide

Sodium Hyaluronate

Globularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract

Fucus Vesiculosus Extract

Punica Granatum Extract

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Laminaria Saccharina Extract

Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract

Rosa Canina Fruit Oil

Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil

Ferulic Acid

Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil

Glucosyl Hesperidin

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Centella Asiatica Extract

Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract

Carbomer

Tocopherol

Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil

Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil

Equisetum Arvense Extract

Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract

Geranium Maculatum Extract

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Xanthan Gum

Sodium Hydroxide

Propanediol

Phenethyl Alcohol

Pentylene Glycol

Water, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Globularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Ferulic Acid, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol

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!

Similar Comparisons

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. 03Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
  4. 04Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
  5. 05In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
  6. 06While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
  7. 07Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
  8. 08This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
  9. 09This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures…
  10. 10Ethylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
  11. 11In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
  12. 12One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
  13. 13For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
  14. 14This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
  15. 15PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate is a synthetic, oil-loving helper ingredient that does two jobs:
  16. 16This ingredient is made by joining three building blocks: PEG, Isostearic Acid and glycerin. The PEG gives it the oil-and-water blending power.
  17. 17This ingredient has been found safe for use in cosmetics and broader PEG family testing shows minimal irritation/sensitization. The molecule's large size also means it isn't expected to penetrate skin to any meaningful degree.
  18. 18Fungal acne note: This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to isostearic acid (C18). Isostearic acid falls into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can feed on.
  19. 19Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
  20. 20Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
02

Product index

Related product references

Product

Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Toner

Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Toner Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Toner ingredients explained: Aqua, Glycerin (Hydration/Skin Replenishing), Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate (Preserva…

Source: incidecoder.comView reference →
03

Comparison edit

Read side by side

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