Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub Versus Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA

Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub Versus Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA Detailed comparison of Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub versus Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA. Water Cocamidopropyl Betaine Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate Coco-Glucoside Sodium Cocoamphoacetate Glycerin Panthenol Tocopheryl Acetate Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Benzoate Sodium Citrate Xanthan Gum Heliotropine Phenoxyethanol Polyquaternium-10 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Citric Acid Parfum Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Glycerin, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Heliotropine, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-10, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Parfum Butylene Glycol Cetyl Alcohol PPG-14 Butyl Ether Salicylic Acid Dimethicone Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Epilobium Angustifolium Extract Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract Bisabolol Allantoin Cyclopentasiloxane Cyclohexasiloxane Dimethiconol PEG-40 Stearate Sorbitan Stearate Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer Polyacrylamide C13-14 Isoparaffin Laureth-7 Disodium EDTA Hexylene Glycol Caprylyl Glycol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Ethylhexylglycerin Water, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Salicylic Acid, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethiconol, PEG-40 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!). It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome. On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive. Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10). You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own. Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU. Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages. Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon. 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. Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E. Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life. It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time. One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small. Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage. Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models. This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a p