Skin science article
Paula's Choice RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment With 5% AHA Versus L'Oreal Revitalift 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum
Paula's Choice RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment With 5% AHA Versus L'Oreal Revitalift 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles.
Paula's Choice RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment With 5% AHA Versus L'Oreal Revitalift 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum
This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles.
This smoothing serum is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Ascorbyl Glucoside to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycolic Acid
Cetyl Alcohol
Butylene Glycol
Polyacrylamide
Dimethicone
PPG-14 Butyl Ether
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Ceramide Ng
Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane
Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Salicylic Acid
Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates
PEG-10 Phytosterol
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Bisabolol
Allantoin
Cyclopentasiloxane
Cyclohexasiloxane
Dimethiconol
Tribehenin
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
PEG-40 Stearate
Sorbitan Stearate
Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer
Disodium EDTA
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Laureth-7
Sodium Hydroxide
Caprylyl Glycol
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Hexylene Glycol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Phenoxyethanol
Water, Glycolic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylamide, Dimethicone, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Ceramide Ng, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Salicylic Acid, Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Tribehenin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PEG-40 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Glycerin
Alcohol Denat.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Sodium Hyaluronate
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Citric Acid
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Benzoate
Water, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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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.
Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with tons of research backing its benefits.
It is found naturally in sugar cane but the form used in skincare is usually synthetic for purity and stability.
Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells to allow newer and fresher ones to emerge.
AHAs work by breaking down the structural “glue” that holds old skin cells in place. When that buildup is gone, your skin can renew itself more efficiently.
Research also shows glycolic acid stimulates collagen production, helping to firm and thicken the skin over time. This is one of its biggest advantages over other AHAs.
Overall, glycolic acid helps with:
Fun fact: Glycolic acid boosts skin hydration by helping it produce molecules that increase hyaluronic acid naturally.
To work best, glycolic acid products should have a pH between 3-4 (that’s where exfoliation is most effective but still gentle on skin).
The pH and concentration of a product are key to its effectiveness:
It is normal to feel a slight stinging sensation when using glycolic acid. This usually fades as your skin adjusts.
Because glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in the AHA family, it can penetrate deeper, which enhances its effectiveness but also makes it more likely to irritate sensitive skin.
If your skin is very sensitive or prone to rosacea, glycolic acid may be too strong; in that case, try milder options like lactic acid or a PHA instead.
Recent studies suggest glycolic acid might even help protect against UV damage. But don’t skip sunscreen! Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun.
Glycolic acid is a skincare superstar. It smooths, brightens, hydrates, and firms the skin. Unless you’re highly sensitive, it’s well worth adding to your routine.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
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!