Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Skin science article

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Truecica Clear Pad

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Truecica Clear Pad This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores. This acne toner pad uses

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Truecica Clear Pad

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

This acne toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Salix Alba Bark Water and Betaine Salicylate 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

Salix Alba Bark Water 85%

1,2-Hexanediol

Glycerin

Sodium Hyaluronate

Betaine Salicylate 0.5%

Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract

Centella Asiatica Extract

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water

Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract

Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract

Houttuynia Cordata Extract

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Madecassic Acid

Asiaticoside

Asiatic Acid

Madecassoside

Allantoin

Panthenol

Arginine

PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Citric Acid

Lactobionic Acid

Benzyl Glycol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Raspberry Ketone

Mentha Piperita Oil

Salix Alba Bark Water 85%, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine Salicylate 0.5%, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Allantoin, Panthenol, Arginine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Citric Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Water, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Mentha Piperita Oil

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.

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

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. 03Benzoic Acid is an organic acid that shows up in cosmetics as a preservative. It helps keep a product from spoiling by holding back the growth of yeast, mold, and some bacteria.
  4. 04This ingredient also functions as a fragrance ingredient that helps mask the unpleasant scent of other ingredients.
  5. 05The way it works is worth understanding; benzoic acid works when the formula is acidic. It is able to sneak into a microbe's cell and mess up how it functions to stop it from growing in an acidic product.
  6. 06However, the acid switches to an inactive form and stops working if a product isn't acidic enough (above ~5 pH). This is why you'll often see it in low pH products or teamed up with other preservatives to cover the gap.
  7. 07Safety wise, it's one of the better studied preservatives out there.
  8. 08The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%.
  9. 09A large international review found this ingredient had no effects on the human body and had low irritation potential.
  10. 10Just so you know, real world use is usually much lower than the 5% ceiling (usually 1% of less).
  11. 11The EU caps it at 2.5% in rinse-off products, 1.7% in oral care, and 0.5% in leave-on products.
  12. 12One thing worth mentioning (it's nothing to worry about): some people get a little stinging or flushing where they apply it. This isn't a true allergy; it's a temporary and harmless reaction. This is the same kind of mild tingle you might notice fro…
  13. 13Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
  14. 14Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
  15. 15Though 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.
  16. 16Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
  17. 17Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
  18. 18It plays several roles in a formula:
  19. 19Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
  20. 20Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
Source · skinsort.com
02

Product index

Related product references

03

Comparison edit

Read side by side