Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant Versus ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator

Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant Versus ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant versus ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. Water Glycolic Acid Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Glycerin Sodium Hydroxide Beheneth-5 Dimethicone Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate Behenyl Alcohol Undecane Arachidyl Alcohol Stearyl Alcohol Cetyl Alcohol Phospholipids Allantoin Tocopheryl Acetate Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Bisabolol Arctium Lappa Seed Oil Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Panthenol Sodium Acrylates Copolymer Tridecane Hydrogenated Polydecene Sclerotium Gum Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate Disodium EDTA Tocopherol Chlorphenesin Benzoic Acid Sorbic Acid Ethylhexylglycerin Phenoxyethanol Water, Glycolic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Beheneth-5, Dimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Undecane, Arachidyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Phospholipids, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Tridecane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sclerotium Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol Lactic Acid Propylene Glycol PEG-100 Stearate Squalane Glyceryl Stearate Steapyrium Chloride Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Retinyl Palmitate Myristyl Alcohol Sodium Benzoate Citric Acid Potassium Sorbate Water, Glycolic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, PEG-100 Stearate, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Steapyrium Chloride, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate Be the first to review These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics. Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity. Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation. It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh. Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated. This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%. Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating. Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel. While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns. Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source. This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out. This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%. Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. Its main roles are: Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons.