Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel Versus Thayers Blemish Clearing 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Toner

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel Versus Thayers Blemish Clearing 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Toner Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel versus Thayers Blemish Clearing 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Toner. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. This acne toner is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil to clear breakouts 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 Salicylic Acid 2% Sodium Borate Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Cocamidopropyl Betaine Caprylyl Glycol Citric Acid Decyl Glucoside Ethylhexylglycerin Geraniol Farnesol Limonene Citral Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Sodium Borate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Geraniol, Farnesol, Limonene, Citral 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. 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 Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages. Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon. Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation. Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts. Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can