Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice BHA 9 Treatment Versus Minimalist Salicylic Acid 02%

Paula's Choice BHA 9 Treatment Versus Minimalist Salicylic Acid 02% Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice BHA 9 Treatment versus Minimalist Salicylic Acid 02%. This acne treatment is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and refine the look of po

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Paula's Choice BHA 9 Treatment Versus Minimalist Salicylic Acid 02% Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice BHA 9 Treatment versus Minimalist Salicylic Acid 02%. This acne treatment is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and refine the look of pores. This acne serum is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and refine skin texture. Propylene Glycol PEG-75 Stearate PEG-8 Water Salicylic Acid Glycerin Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Butylene Glycol Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract Sea Whip Extract Arginine Polysorbate 20 Disodium EDTA Propylene Glycol, PEG-75 Stearate, PEG-8, Water, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Butylene Glycol, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Sea Whip Extract, Arginine, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA Methylpropanediol Dimethyl Isosorbide Glycolic Acid Ethoxydiglycol Sodium Hydroxide Pentylene Glycol Marrubium Vulgare Extract Polylysine Sodium Hyaluronate Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside Hydroxyethylcellulose Xanthan Gum Lecithin Sclerotium Gum Pullulan Phenoxyethanol Lactic Acid Oligopeptide-10 Ethylhexylglycerin Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Water, Methylpropanediol, Propylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycolic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Polylysine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid, Oligopeptide-10, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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. 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 ingredients absorb slightly better. The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane. Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins). True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics. Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent. As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes. The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations. True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant). It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions. Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue. Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne