Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 1.0 Versus Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief 1% BHA Lotion Exfoliant

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 1.0 Versus Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief 1% BHA Lotion Exfoliant Detailed comparison of Clinique Clarifying Lotion 1.0 versus Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief 1% BHA Lotion Exfoliant. This smoothing toner is formulated around

This source-based comparison does not add ratings or recommend a winner.

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 1.0 Versus Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief 1% BHA Lotion Exfoliant Detailed comparison of Clinique Clarifying Lotion 1.0 versus Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief 1% BHA Lotion Exfoliant. This smoothing toner is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Acetyl Glucosamine to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores. This calming exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Allantoin to calm redness and refine skin texture. Water Hamamelis Virginiana Water Dipropylene Glycol Biosaccharide Gum-1 Butylene Glycol Acetyl Glucosamine Glycerin Sucrose Salicylic Acid Caffeine Sodium Hyaluronate Polysorbate 20 Trehalose Capryloyl Glycine Disodium Phosphate Trisodium EDTA Benzoic Acid Phenoxyethanol Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Glycerin, Sucrose, Salicylic Acid, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Trehalose, Capryloyl Glycine, Disodium Phosphate, Trisodium EDTA, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol Cetyl Alcohol Cyclopentasiloxane Dimethicone Avena Sativa Bran Extract Allantoin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract Lauric Acid Sorbitan Stearate Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer PEG-40 Stearate Xanthan Gum Hexylene Glycol Sodium Hydroxide Ethylhexylglycerin Disodium EDTA Caprylyl Glycol Water, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Salicylic Acid, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lauric Acid, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Stearate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG-40 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol 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. 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. Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable. It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active