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Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Kiehl's Oil Eliminator 24-Hour Anti-Shine Moisturizer for Men

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Kiehl's Oil Eliminator 24-Hour Anti-Shine Moisturizer for Men This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores. This oil-control day

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Kiehl's Oil Eliminator 24-Hour Anti-Shine Moisturizer for Men

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

This oil-control day moisturizer is formulated around Silica Silylate and Salicylic Acid to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores.

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

Glycerin

Alcohol Denat.

Dimethicone

Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin

Triethanolamine

Phenoxyethanol

Silica

Capryloyl Glycine

Cetyl Dimethicone

Honey

Carbomer

Caprylyl Glycol

Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane

Silica Silylate

Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer

Cetearyl Alcohol

Acrylates Copolymer

Totarol

Parfum

Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

Cetearyl Glucoside

Hexyl Cinnamal

Linalool

Limonene

Benzyl Alcohol

Amyl Cinnamal

Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Capryloyl Glycine, Cetyl Dimethicone, Honey, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Silica Silylate, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Totarol, Parfum, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Amyl Cinnamal

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.

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.

Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.

Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

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. 03Achillea Millefolium Extract comes from the yarrow plant. Yarrow is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids.
  4. 04Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
  5. 05Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
  6. 06Though 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.
  7. 07Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
  8. 08Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
  9. 09However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
  10. 10Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
  11. 11In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
  12. 12While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
  13. 13Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
  14. 14Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
  15. 15However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's…
  16. 16Lactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
  17. 17Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
  18. 18Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
  19. 19Like glycolic acid, it can:
  20. 20Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
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Comparison edit

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