Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser Versus Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic Cleansing Gel

Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser Versus Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic Cleansing Gel

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

This glycolic acid gel cleanser is formulated around Glycolic Acid to exfoliate and smooth skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Salicylic Acid

Water

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer

Glycerin

PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate

Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Arginine

Butylene Glycol

PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate

Panthenol

Disodium EDTA

Citric Acid

PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Sodium Citrate

Phenoxyethanol

Caprylyl Glycol

Chlorphenesin

Salicylic Acid, Water, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, Glycerin, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin

Propanediol

Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate

Allantoin

Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water

Saccharomyces/Nelumbo Nucifera Ferment Extract Filtrate

Saponaria Officinalis Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Veronica Officinalis Leaf Extract

Glycolic Acid

Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract

Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract

Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract

Betaine

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract

Citrus Limon Fruit Extract

Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract

Hamamelis Virginiana Extract

Lactobacillus Ferment

Panax Ginseng Root Extract

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Tocopherol

Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract

Carbomer

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Potassium Hydroxide

Ethylhexylglycerin

1,2-Hexanediol

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil

Lavandula Hybrida Oil

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

Juniperus Mexicana Oil

Limonene

Water, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water, Saccharomyces/Nelumbo Nucifera Ferment Extract Filtrate, Saponaria Officinalis Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Veronica Officinalis Leaf Extract, Glycolic Acid, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Betaine, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Potassium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Limonene, Phenoxyethanol

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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.

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).

It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.

On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

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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