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Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores. This acne toner is formulated around Salicylic

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner

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

This acne toner is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Centella Asiatica Extract to clear breakouts and refine skin texture.

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

Salicylic Acid 2%

Arginine

Allantoin

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water

Glycerin

Centella Asiatica Extract

Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract

Lactic Acid

Glycolic Acid

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Citric Acid

Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Allantoin, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric 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.

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.

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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. 03Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
  4. 04Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
  5. 05Though 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.
  6. 06Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
  7. 07This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
  8. 08On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
  9. 09One 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…
  10. 10Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
  11. 11You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
  12. 12Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant catechin in green tea. It is a heavyweight antioxidant in the green tea family.
  13. 13In skincare, it helps protect skin from photoaging damage by scavenging UV-induced reactive oxygen species and tampering down inflammatory pathways.
  14. 14UV-exposed skin cells treated with EGCG showed less of the enzyme that chews up collagen, lower inflammatory signaling, and better preserved barrier function.
  15. 15EGCG nudges skin cells to make more of your skin's built in moisturizing molecules, filaggrin and hyaluronic acid, for better skin hydration.
  16. 16Because it inhibits melanogenesis, it also provides a mild brightening effect.
  17. 17Clinically, topical EGCG has helped calm radiation-related skin irritation and scalp seborrheic dermatitis with no major side effects.
  18. 18In an 8-week split-face study, topical EGCG at 1% and 5% significantly reduced inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne.
  19. 19A study from 2023 on patients with Seborrhea (a chronic skin condition caused by overactive sebaceous glands) found that using a 5% EGCG cream (alone and combined with 2% L-carnitine) and found meaningful sebum reduction plus better hydration.
  20. 20Just one caveat here: Most clinical trials used 1-5% concentrations and most cosmetics contain only 0.1-1%.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
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