Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Skin science article

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores. This brightening toner is formulated a

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner

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

This brightening toner is formulated around Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract to brighten dull-looking skin and calm redness.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

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

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water

PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides

PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate

Dipropylene Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Poloxamer 184

Phenoxyethanol

Glycerin

Rheum Palmatum Root Extract

Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract

Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract

Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Sodium Citrate

Disodium EDTA

Citric Acid

Tocopheryl Acetate

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract

Cimicifuga Dahurica Root Extract

Pueraria Lobata Root Extract

Propylene Glycol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Water, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Poloxamer 184, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Cimicifuga Dahurica Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin

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.

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.

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.

01

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. 10Sodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
  11. 11Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
  12. 12Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
  13. 13You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damag…
  14. 14Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
  15. 15It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
  16. 16This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
  17. 17This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
  18. 18In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
  19. 19Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
  20. 20Water. 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.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
02

Product index

Related product references

Product

Paula's Choice Calm Redness Moisturizer

Paula's Choice Calm Redness Moisturizer Paula's Choice Calm Redness Moisturizer ingredients explained: Sodium Hyaluronate⁠, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein⁠, Petrolatum⁠, Glycerin⁠, Hydrogenated L…

Source: incidecoder.comView reference →
03

Comparison edit

Read side by side

Continue reading

Related articles