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Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Thayers Exfoliating 2% AHA Toner

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Thayers Exfoliating 2% AHA Toner This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores. This toner is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis L

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Versus Thayers Exfoliating 2% AHA Toner

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

This toner is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice to calm irritation and reduce redness.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

No 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

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

Saccharum Officinarum Extract

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Chamomilla Recutita Extract

Acer Saccharum Extract

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Citrus Limon Fruit Extract

Pvp

Isoceteth-20

Disodium EDTA

Propylene Glycol

Citric Acid

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Phenoxyethanol

Chlorphenesin

Limonene

Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Pvp, Isoceteth-20, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Limonene

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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.

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!

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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. 03Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
  4. 04Despite 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.
  5. 05It plays several roles in a formula:
  6. 06Typical 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.
  7. 07Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
  8. 08However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
  9. 09Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
  10. 10Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
  11. 11Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
  12. 12This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
  13. 13A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
  14. 14Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
  15. 15Its main roles are:
  16. 16Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
  17. 17The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
  18. 18This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
  19. 19Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
  20. 20What it does:
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
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