Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner Versus MediCube Zero Pore Pad 2.0

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner Versus MediCube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner US versus MediCube Zero Pore Pad 2.0. This pore-care toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthen

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Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner Versus MediCube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner US versus MediCube Zero Pore Pad 2.0. This pore-care toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to refine the look of pores and balance excess oil. This pore-care toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Lactic Acid and Salicylic Acid to refine the look of pores and refine skin texture. Water Glycerin Butylene Glycol Niacinamide Polysorbate 20 Adenosine Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract Arctium Lappa Seed Oil Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters Sodium PCA Panthenol Sodium Hyaluronate Ceramide NP Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Phytosphingosine Cholesterol Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Oleth-10 Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Caprylyl Glycol Hexylene Glycol Sodium Citrate Xanthan Gum Trisodium EDTA Phenoxyethanol Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Adenosine, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Oleth-10, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol Methylpropanediol Tromethamine Lactic Acid Alcohol Denat. 1,2-Hexanediol Glycereth-26 Salicylic Acid Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer Betaine Trehalose Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate Ethylhexylglycerin Allantoin Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate Disodium EDTA Betaine Salicylate Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil Citrus Limon Peel Oil Citrus Grandis Peel Oil Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract Citrus Limon Fruit Extract Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract Ethyl Hexanediol Centella Asiatica Extract Salix Alba Bark Extract Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract Portulaca Oleracea Extract Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract Pueraria Lobata Root Extract Limonene Water, Methylpropanediol, Tromethamine, Lactic Acid, Alcohol Denat., 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Glycereth-26, Salicylic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Betaine, Trehalose, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine Salicylate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Ethyl Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Limonene 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. Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair. There are two forms of panthenol: D and L. D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol. Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons): Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated. This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds. Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells. This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5. Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity. In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface. Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior: Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair. Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects. You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient. Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. 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