Skin Rocks The Gentle Acid Versus Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant

Skin Rocks The Gentle Acid Versus Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant Detailed comparison of Skin Rocks The Gentle Acid versus Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant. This smoothing toner is formulated around Mandelic Acid and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores. Water Sodium Hydroxide Mandelic Acid Lactic Acid Pentylene Glycol Glycerin Ethoxydiglycol Gluconolactone Spondias Mombin Pulp Extract Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract Musa Sapientum Pulp Extract Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract Panthenol Benzyl Alcohol PPG-26-Buteth-26 Caprylhydroxamic Acid PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Potassium Sorbate Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Mandelic Acid, Lactic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Gluconolactone, Spondias Mombin Pulp Extract, Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract, Musa Sapientum Pulp Extract, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Benzyl Alcohol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate Butylene Glycol Polysorbate 20 Cetyl Alcohol Salicylic Acid Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer Cyclopentasiloxane Sorbitan Stearate Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Lauric Acid Allantoin Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Epilobium Angustifolium Extract Dimethicone Xanthan Gum Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Hexylene Glycol Disodium EDTA Ethylhexylglycerin Phenoxyethanol Caprylyl Glycol Water, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Cetyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sorbitan Stearate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lauric Acid, Allantoin, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol 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. PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil. As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively. Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface. This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity. A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective. In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline. Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated. "Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic. Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product. So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation. You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!