Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel Versus Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel Versus Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel versus Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated arou

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Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel Versus Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel versus Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. This wash off mask is made with Niacinamide and Papain for a rinse-off smoothing boost. Water Aminomethyl Propanol Glycolic Acid Lactic Acid Mandelic Acid Isoamyl Laurate Tartaric Acid Propanediol Salicylic Acid Malic Acid Butylene Glycol Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract Sodium Hyaluronate Glycyrrhetinic Acid Glycerin Tocopherol Bisabolol Allantoin Hydroxyethylcellulose Hydrogenated Lecithin Xanthan Gum Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 Titanium Dioxide Mica Phenoxyethanol Water, Aminomethyl Propanol, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Isoamyl Laurate, Tartaric Acid, Propanediol, Salicylic Acid, Malic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Phenoxyethanol Propylene Glycol Octyldodecanol Glyceryl Stearate Se Cetearyl Alcohol C12-16 Alcohols Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Niacinamide Palmitic Acid Parfum Papain Chlorphenesin Lactis Proteinum Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract Sodium Dehydroacetate Disodium EDTA Porphyridium Cruentum Extract Cinnamyl Alcohol Fucus Vesiculosus Extract Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract Citronellol Geraniol Limonene Citral Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil Cuminum Cyminum Seed Oil Water, Propylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, C12-16 Alcohols, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Parfum, Papain, Chlorphenesin, Lactis Proteinum, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disodium EDTA, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Citral, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Cuminum Cyminum Seed Oil 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. 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. Hydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin. It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily. This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier. Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin. A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!). It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome. On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive. Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10). You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own. Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU. Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence