Tula Skincare Go Away Acne Spot Treatment Versus Paula's Choice Clear Regular Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution With 2% Salicylic Acid

Tula Skincare Go Away Acne Spot Treatment Versus Paula's Choice Clear Regular Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution With 2% Salicylic Acid

This acne treatment is formulated around Benzoyl Peroxide and Niacinamide to clear breakouts and calm redness.

This acne exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate to clear breakouts and calm redness.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Benzoyl Peroxide 5%

Water

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Glycerin

Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer

Propanediol

Butylene Glycol

Niacinamide

Lactococcus Ferment Lysate

Lactic Acid

Azelaic Acid

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil

Capryloyl Salicylic Acid

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Citric Acid

Bisabolol

Morinda Citrifolia Extract

Xanthan Gum

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Tocopherol

1,2-Hexanediol

Caprylyl Glycol

Carbomer

Silica

Sodium Citrate

Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate

Dimethicone

Ethylhexylglycerin

Hydroxyacetophenone

Isohexadecane

PEG-40 Stearate

Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate

Polysorbate 80

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Sodium Chloride

Sodium Hydroxide

Sorbitan Stearate

Phenoxyethanol

Benzoyl Peroxide 5%, Water, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycerin, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Citric Acid, Bisabolol, Morinda Citrifolia Extract, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Silica, Sodium Citrate, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Isohexadecane, PEG-40 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Polysorbate 80, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Stearate, Phenoxyethanol

Salicylic Acid 2%

Dipropylene Glycol

Pentylene Glycol

Polysorbate 20

Sodium Hyaluronate

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Allantoin

Panthenol

PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer

Methyl Gluceth-20

Glycereth-26

Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane

Tetrasodium EDTA

Sodium Metabisulfite

Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Panthenol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycereth-26, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite

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.

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.

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!

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