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MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant This salicylic acid gel cleanser is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and unclog pores. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Ac

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

MIAMO AHA/BHA Purifying Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

This salicylic acid gel cleanser is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and unclog 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

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate

PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate

PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate

Niacinamide

Glycerin

Lactobionic Acid

Mandelic Acid

Phenoxyethanol

Caprylyl Glycol

Salicylic Acid

Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Glyceryl Cocoate

Citric Acid

Lauryl Glucoside

Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate

Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate

1,2-Hexanediol

Cocamide Mea

Laureth-10

Tropolone

Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Lactobionic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glyceryl Cocoate, Citric Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cocamide Mea, Laureth-10, Tropolone

Methylpropanediol

Butylene Glycol

Polysorbate 20

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.

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.

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. 03Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
  4. 04Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
  5. 05Your 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.
  6. 06Aquaporin-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.
  7. 07This 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.
  8. 08Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
  9. 09Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
  10. 10Hydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
  11. 11It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
  12. 12This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
  13. 13Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
  14. 14Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
  15. 15A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
  16. 16Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
  17. 17There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
  18. 18D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
  19. 19Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
  20. 20Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
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