Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice Resist Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner Versus The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution

Paula's Choice Resist Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner Versus The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Resist Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner versus The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. This anti-agin

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Paula's Choice Resist Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner Versus The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Resist Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner versus The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. This anti-aging toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Glucosamine to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier. This smoothing toner is formulated around Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. Water Glycerin Ethoxydiglycol Niacinamide Acetyl Glucosamine Salix Nigra Bark Extract Resveratrol Sodium Hyaluronate Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Phospholipids Epigallocatechin Gallate Carnosine Genistein Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Adenosine Xanthan Gum Citric Acid Polysorbate 20 Butylene Glycol Ethylhexylglycerin Carbomer Tetrasodium EDTA Phenoxyethanol Water, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Resveratrol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Phospholipids, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Carnosine, Genistein, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol Glycolic Acid Rosa Damascena Flower Water Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water Propanediol Triethanolamine Aminomethyl Propanol Panax Ginseng Root Extract Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract Aspartic Acid Alanine Glycine Serine Valine Isoleucine Proline Threonine Histidine Phenylalanine Glutamic Acid Arginine PCA Sodium PCA Sodium Lactate Fructose Glucose Sucrose Urea Hexyl Nicotinate Dextrin Gellan Gum Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Sodium Chloride Hexylene Glycol Potassium Sorbate Sodium Benzoate 1,2-Hexanediol Caprylyl Glycol Water, Glycolic Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Aminomethyl Propanol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glutamic Acid, Arginine, PCA, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Urea, Hexyl Nicotinate, Dextrin, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Gellan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes. Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath. However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products. Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH. In skincare formulas, citric acid can: While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants. Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations. Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger. However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure. 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 t