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Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Farmacy Honeymoon Glow

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Farmacy Honeymoon Glow This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores. This smoothing serum is formulated around Lactic Acid and Gl

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Farmacy Honeymoon Glow

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

This smoothing serum is formulated around Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.

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

Lactic Acid

Propanediol

Jojoba Esters

Glycolic Acid

Potassium Hydroxide

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes

Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil

Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract

Citric Acid

Honey Extract

Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract

Propolis Extract

Royal Jelly Extract

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Oil

Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil

Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract

Saccharum Officinarum Extract

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract

Citrus Limon Fruit Extract

Acer Saccharum Extract

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil

Cetearyl Alcohol

Glycerin

Arachidyl Alcohol

Sclerotium Gum

Coco-Glucoside

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Behenyl Alcohol

Arachidyl Glucoside

Sodium Benzoate

Tocopherol

Potassium Sorbate

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate

Gluconolactone

1,2-Hexanediol

Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract

Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

T-Butyl Alcohol

Glucose

Calcium Gluconate

Citral

Water, Lactic Acid, Propanediol, Jojoba Esters, Glycolic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Honey Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract, Propolis Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Arachidyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Coco-Glucoside, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Gluconolactone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Glucose, Calcium Gluconate, Citral

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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.

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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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. 03Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
  4. 04Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
  5. 05In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
  6. 06While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
  7. 07Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
  8. 08This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
  9. 09This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures…
  10. 10Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
  11. 11It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
  12. 12The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
  13. 13The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
  14. 14Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
  15. 15One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
  16. 16This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
  17. 17On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
  18. 18Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
  19. 19You'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…
  20. 20Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
02

Product index

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03

Comparison edit

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