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Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Mediheal Madecassoside Blemish Pad

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Mediheal Madecassoside Blemish Pad This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores. This calming toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Mediheal Madecassoside Blemish Pad

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

This calming toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Niacinamide and Centella Asiatica Extract to calm redness 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

Dipropylene Glycol

Glycereth-26

Niacinamide

Glycerin

1,2-Hexanediol

Diphenyl Dimethicone

Triethylhexanoin

Hydroxyacetophenone

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate

Centella Asiatica Extract

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Sodium Citrate

Allantoin

Octyldodeceth-16

Citric Acid

Disodium EDTA

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Juniperus Virginiana Oil

Artemisia Vulgaris Oil

Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil

Madecassoside

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil

Viola Odorata Leaf Extract

Centella Asiatica Root Extract

Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract

Saccharomyces Ferment

Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract

Lactobacillus Ferment

Asiaticoside

Madecassic Acid

Asiatic Acid

Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Citrate, Allantoin, Octyldodeceth-16, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Butylene Glycol, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Madecassoside, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid

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. 03Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).
  4. 04It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.
  5. 05This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.
  6. 06Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.
  7. 07The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.
  8. 08It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.
  9. 09Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.
  10. 10Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
  11. 11This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
  12. 12On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
  13. 13One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too st…
  14. 14Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
  15. 15You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
  16. 16Ethylhexyl Salicylate (also called Octisalate or Octyl Salicylate) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that's been used in sunscreen since the 1950's.
  17. 17It absorbs UVB light in the 280-320 nm range with a peak absorbance around 306 nm.
  18. 18You'll often see it paired with other UV filters to boost overall SPF because octisalate is a fairly week filter on its own.
  19. 19The reason you'll see it so often is because it can help solubilize and stabilize the trickier filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone.
  20. 20Unlike these filters, octisalate has pretty good photostability and doesn't create skin-damaging free radicals when exposed to sunlight.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
02

Product index

Related product references

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Paula's Choice Pc4Men Daytime Protect Paula's Choice Pc4Men Daytime Protect ingredients explained: Avobenzone (3%), Homosalate (7%), Octocrylene (2%), Oxybenzone (4%), Water (Aqua), Butylen…

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03

Comparison edit

Read side by side

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