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Sephora Collection Brightening Dual Exfoliator Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Sephora Collection Brightening Dual Exfoliator Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant This brightening exfoliator is formulated around Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract and Citric Acid to brighten dull-looking skin. Thi

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Sephora Collection Brightening Dual Exfoliator Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

This brightening exfoliator is formulated around Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract and Citric Acid to brighten dull-looking skin.

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

Glycerin

Water

Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract

Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract

Lauryl Glucoside

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Sodium Benzoate

Citric Acid

Xanthan Gum

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Sodium Citrate

Polysorbate 60

Sorbitan Isostearate

Glycerin, Water, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Lauryl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Citrate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate

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

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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.

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. 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. 06Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
  7. 07Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
  8. 08Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
  9. 09Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
  10. 10This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
  11. 11On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
  12. 12One 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…
  13. 13Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
  14. 14You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
  15. 15Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
  16. 16Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
  17. 17Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
  18. 18Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
  19. 19This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
  20. 20Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
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03

Comparison edit

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