Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment With 5% AHA Versus Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Fast-Acting Salicylic Acid Acne Spot Treatment

Paula's Choice RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment With 5% AHA Versus Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Fast-Acting Salicylic Acid Acne Spot Treatment Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment With 5% AHA USA versus Philosophy Clear Days Ah

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Paula's Choice RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment With 5% AHA Versus Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Fast-Acting Salicylic Acid Acne Spot Treatment Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment With 5% AHA USA versus Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Fast-Acting Salicylic Acid Acne Spot Treatment. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles. This acne treatment is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid to clear breakouts and refine the look of pores. Water Glycolic Acid Cetyl Alcohol Butylene Glycol Polyacrylamide Dimethicone PPG-14 Butyl Ether Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 Ceramide Ng Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane Epigallocatechin Gallate Salicylic Acid Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates PEG-10 Phytosterol Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract Bisabolol Allantoin Cyclopentasiloxane Cyclohexasiloxane Dimethiconol Tribehenin C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate PEG-40 Stearate Sorbitan Stearate Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer Disodium EDTA C13-14 Isoparaffin Laureth-7 Sodium Hydroxide Caprylyl Glycol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Hexylene Glycol Ethylhexylglycerin Phenoxyethanol Water, Glycolic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylamide, Dimethicone, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Ceramide Ng, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Salicylic Acid, Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Tribehenin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PEG-40 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol Salicylic Acid 2% Isododecane Alcohol Denat. Polysilicone-11 Glycereth-7 Trimethyl Ether Propanediol Isopropyl Myristate Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Ethoxydiglycol Sodium Acrylates Copolymer Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid Copolymer Decyl Glucoside Lecithin Lauryl Glucoside Laureth-12 Farnesol Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Alcohol Denat., Polysilicone-11, Glycereth-7 Trimethyl Ether, Propanediol, Glycolic Acid, Polyacrylamide, Isopropyl Myristate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethoxydiglycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Laureth-7, Bisabolol, Decyl Glucoside, Lecithin, Lauryl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-12, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Farnesol These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient. It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation. A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin. In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum. You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%. Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin. 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. C13-14 Isoparaffin is a synthetic emollient, solvent, and thickening agent. It helps soften skin and improves spreadability without leaving a greasy residue. This ingredient has been found to be non-sensitizing and safe for use in cosmetics. Two things floating around online that cause fear-mongering: There's one scary-sounding study related to kidney tumors in male rats; this depends on a protein called alpha-2u-globulin that binds the ingredient and clogs up kidney cells. Female rats barely make this protein, and humans don't make it at all so this effect cannot happen to us. Regulatory bodies have states this rat-only pathway shouldn't be used to judge human risk. The other thing you'll see is 1,4-dioxane being a trace byproduct that can form during manufacturing of petroleum-derived ingredients. This is a real, but heavily managed/monitored issue. This byproduct is removed through purification steps before the ingredients goes into the formula. Regulatory bodies also actively monitor residual levels for safety. One last thing to note: this ingredient is a pure hydrocarbon with no fatty-acid or ester chains for Malassezia to feed on, so it's considered fungal acne safe. Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created. Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin. Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on). Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is a