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Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Dermalogica Pure Night Powerbright

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Dermalogica Pure Night Powerbright This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores. This brightening night moisturizer is formulated

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Dermalogica Pure Night Powerbright

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

This brightening night moisturizer is formulated around Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.

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

Cyclopentasiloxane

Methylheptyl Isostearate

Dimethicone

Cetyl Alcohol

Isohexadecane

Cetearyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Stearate Citrate

Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate

Cetyl Caprylate

Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil

Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil

Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract

Strelitzia Nicolai Seed Aril Extract

Oligopeptide-34

Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Niacinamide

Cananga Odorata Flower Oil

Tocopherol

Beta-Sitosterol

Zinc Glycinate

Decyl Glucoside

Polysilicone-11

Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Glyceryl Caprylate

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Dimethiconol

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Aminomethyl Propanol

Disodium EDTA

Ethylhexylglycerin

Phenoxyethanol

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methylheptyl Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetyl Caprylate, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract, Strelitzia Nicolai Seed Aril Extract, Oligopeptide-34, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Tocopherol, Beta-Sitosterol, Zinc Glycinate, Decyl Glucoside, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

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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.

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. 03Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
  4. 04Its main roles are:
  5. 05Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
  6. 06The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
  7. 07This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
  8. 08Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
  9. 09What it does:
  10. 10Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
  11. 11Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
  12. 12Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
  13. 13This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
  14. 14Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
  15. 15Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
  16. 16Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
  17. 17Your 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.
  18. 18Aquaporin-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.
  19. 19This 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.
  20. 20Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
02

Product index

Related product references

Product

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03

Comparison edit

Read side by side

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