Oskia Violet Water Treatment Tonic Versus Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant

Oskia Violet Water Treatment Tonic Versus Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant

This acne exfoliator is formulated around Rosa Damascena Flower Water and Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and calm redness.

This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Rosa Damascena Flower Water

Propanediol

Butylene Glycol

Water

Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water

Dimethyl Sulfone

Salicylic Acid

Glycerin

Sodium Lactate

Panthenol

Trehalose

Salix Daphnoides Bud/Leaf/Stem Extract

Inulin

Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract

Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid

Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract

Colloidal Silver

Glutamic Acid

7-Dehydrocholesterol

Citrus Junos Fruit Extract

Chlorella Vulgaris Extract

Allantoin

Betaine

Gluconolactone

Sodium PCA

PCA

Serine

Alanine

Glycine

Lysine

Threonine

Arginine

Proline

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Tocopherol

Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate

Genipa Americana Fruit Extract

Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract

Sodium Benzoate

Pentylene Glycol

Octyldodecanol

Potassium Sorbate

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Citric Acid

Maltodextrin

Lactic Acid

Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Water, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Dimethyl Sulfone, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Lactate, Panthenol, Trehalose, Salix Daphnoides Bud/Leaf/Stem Extract, Inulin, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Colloidal Silver, Glutamic Acid, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Allantoin, Betaine, Gluconolactone, Sodium PCA, PCA, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Lysine, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate, Genipa Americana Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Potassium Sorbate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Lactic Acid

Polysorbate 20

Cetyl Alcohol

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Cyclopentasiloxane

Sorbitan Stearate

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Lauric Acid

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Epilobium Angustifolium Extract

Dimethicone

Xanthan Gum

Magnesium Aluminum Silicate

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Sodium Hydroxide

Hexylene Glycol

Disodium EDTA

Ethylhexylglycerin

Phenoxyethanol

Caprylyl Glycol

Water, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Cetyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sorbitan Stearate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lauric Acid, Allantoin, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.

Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.

It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.

Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.

This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.

Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.

Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.

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.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your 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.

Aquaporin-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.

This 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.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

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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