Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel Versus Kate Somerville ExfoliKate® Intensive Pore Exfoliating Treatment

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel Versus Kate Somerville ExfoliKate® Intensive Pore Exfoliating Treatment Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel versus Kate Somerville ExfoliKate® Intensive Pore Exfoliating Treatment. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Lactic Acid and Silica to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores. 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 Silica Glycine Soja Oil Pectin Cetearyl Alcohol Carica Papaya Fruit Ceteareth-20 Cetyl Alcohol Dehydroxanthan Gum Glyceryl Stearate PEG-100 Stearate Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract Alcohol Denat. Sorbic Acid Cinnamal Mel Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil Eugenol Potassium Sorbate Limonene Linalool Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Beta-Carotene Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder Bromelain Papain Retinyl Palmitate Tocopheryl Acetate Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil Acetic Acid Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Extract Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil CI 75810 Water, Lactic Acid, Silica, Glycine Soja Oil, Pectin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carica Papaya Fruit, Ceteareth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Alcohol Denat., Sorbic Acid, Cinnamal, Mel, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Eugenol, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Linalool, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Beta-Carotene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Bromelain, Papain, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Acetic Acid, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, CI 75810 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. Lactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective. Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin. Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin. Like glycolic acid, it can: Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate. Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome. To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4. Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time. Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations. When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH. Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles. Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids. Read more about some other popular AHA's here: 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. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Saf