Peter Thomas Roth FirmX Peeling Gel Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Peter Thomas Roth FirmX Peeling Gel Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

This exfoliator is formulated around Cellulose to control oil.

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

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

PEG-32

Cellulose

Butylene Glycol

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Water

Sorbitol

R-Bacillus Licheniformis Keratinase

Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract

Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Sodium Hyaluronate

Glycerin

Sodium Hydroxide

Citric Acid

Tetrasodium EDTA

Algin

Carbomer

Tromethamine

Isopropyl Myristate

Sodium Chloride

Calcium Chloride

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Mica

Phenoxyethanol

Water, PEG-32, Cellulose, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Water, Sorbitol, R-Bacillus Licheniformis Keratinase, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Algin, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Isopropyl Myristate, Sodium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Mica, Phenoxyethanol

Methylpropanediol

Salicylic Acid

Polysorbate 20

Camellia Oleifera Leaf

Water, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Camellia Oleifera Leaf, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA

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.

Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.

Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.

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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