Skin science article
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Arginine to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This smoothing ex
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Arginine to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate 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
Water
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Cetyl Alcohol
Propanediol
Stearyl Alcohol
Glycerin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Arginine
Aspartic Acid
Glycine
Alanine
Serine
Valine
Isoleucine
Proline
Threonine
Histidine
Phenylalanine
Glucose
Maltose
Fructose
Trehalose
Sodium PCA
PCA
Sodium Lactate
Urea
Allantoin
Linoleic Acid
Oleic Acid
Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides
Palmitic Acid
Stearic Acid
Lecithin
Triolein
Tocopherol
Carbomer
Isoceteth-20
Polysorbate 60
Sodium Chloride
Citric Acid
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Pentylene Glycol
Triethanolamine
Sodium Hydroxide
Phenoxyethanol
Chlorphenesin
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Allantoin, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Lecithin, Triolein, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Isoceteth-20, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Pentylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Methylpropanediol
Butylene Glycol
Salicylic Acid
Polysorbate 20
Camellia Oleifera Leaf
Tetrasodium EDTA
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.
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!