Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant Versus Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant Versus Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment

This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.

This smoothing treatment is formulated around Squalane and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

No key ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycolic Acid

Sodium Hydroxide

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Aloe Ferox Leaf Juice Extract

Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Panthenol

Sodium PCA

Propylene Glycol

Butylene Glycol

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Polyquaternium-10

Phenoxyethanol

Sodium Benzoate

Water, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aloe Ferox Leaf Juice Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyquaternium-10, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate

Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract

Cypripedium Pubescens Extract

Opuntia Vulgaris Leaf Extract

Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract

Arnica Montana Flower Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Squalane

Lactic Acid

PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer

Propanediol

Stearic Acid

Dimethicone

Cetearyl Alcohol

Phenyl Trimethicone

Disiloxane

Ceteareth-20

Glyceryl Stearate

PEG-100 Stearate

Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil

Potassium Hydroxide

Xanthan Gum

Caprylyl Glycol

Chlorphenesin

Sodium Phytate

Water, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Cypripedium Pubescens Extract, Opuntia Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Lactic Acid, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Disiloxane, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Phytate

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.

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).

It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.

On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

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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