Trish McEvoy Beta Hydroxy Pads Daily Exfoliator Versus First Aid Beauty Brighten + Glow Facial Radiance Pads With Glycolic + Lactic Acids

Trish McEvoy Beta Hydroxy Pads Daily Exfoliator Versus First Aid Beauty Brighten + Glow Facial Radiance Pads With Glycolic + Lactic Acids

This smoothing exfoliating pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Salicylic Acid and Salix Alba Bark Extract to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores.

This smoothing exfoliating pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Hamamelis Virginiana Extract

Betaine

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Butylene Glycol

Glycerin

Sodium Hyaluronate

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Lavandula Angustifolia Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Panthenol

Allantoin

Salicylic Acid

Xanthan Gum

Triethanolamine

Propylene Glycol

Diazolidinyl Urea

Methylparaben

Propylparaben

DMDM Hydantoin

Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Betaine, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Allantoin, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Triethanolamine, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water

Lactic Acid

Glycolic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid

Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract

Citrus Limon Peel Extract

Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract

Polysorbate 20

Phenoxyethanol

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Citric Acid

Chlorphenesin

Sodium Hydroxide

Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide

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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.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is the filtered, stabilized liquid pressed from the inner gel of the aloe vera leaf.

In cosmetics, it shows up as either soothing active or a water-replacement base. It is roughly 98-99% water and the last 1-2% is an interesting mix of polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

The polysaccharides do most of the work: they bind water at the skin surface for a light, non-greasy hydration boost. And one of the polysaccharides, glycomannan, is linked to fibroblast stimulation + collagen synthesis. This is also why aloe has such a long track record in wound and burn healing.

This ingredient is also calming with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity, making it a great pick for sensitive, irritated, or post-sun skin.

Realistic expectations matter though; the solid evidence is mostly limited to hydration, soothing, and wound support. Deeper claims about anti-aging or sun protection are not well backed, and science reviews note it does not prevent radiation-induced skin injury.

Because it plays well with almost everything, it's commonly used as a base alongside other actives like niacinamide or vitamin C.

Typical usage concentrations range from 0.5% (where hydration benefits already show up) all the way to 90%+ (where it replaces water as the main base).

The safety for this ingredient is well-establish as well. Overall, this is a great supporting ingredient for those who want a boost in hydration.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your 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.

Aquaporin-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.

This 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.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

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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