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La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micro-Exfoliating Astringent Toner Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micro-Exfoliating Astringent Toner Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant This oil-control toner is formulated around Capryloyl Salicylic Acid to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores. This smoothing exf

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micro-Exfoliating Astringent Toner Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

This oil-control toner is formulated around Capryloyl Salicylic Acid to balance excess oil and 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

Alcohol Denat.

Glycerin

Sodium Citrate

Propylene Glycol

Disodium EDTA

Capryloyl Salicylic Acid

Citric Acid

Parfum

Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Sodium Citrate, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Parfum

Methylpropanediol

Butylene Glycol

Salicylic Acid

Polysorbate 20

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.

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.

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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. 03Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
  4. 04It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
  5. 05This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
  6. 06Studies 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.
  7. 07The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
  8. 08It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
  9. 09Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
  10. 10Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
  11. 11Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
  12. 12Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
  13. 13In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
  14. 14There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
  15. 15Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
  16. 16A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
  17. 17The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
  18. 18Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
  19. 19Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
  20. 20Ethylhexyl Salicylate (also called Octisalate or Octyl Salicylate) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that's been used in sunscreen since the 1950's.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
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