The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution Versus Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution Versus Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant Detailed comparison of The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution versus Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant. This smoothing toner is formulated around Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. Water Glycolic Acid Rosa Damascena Flower Water Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water Propanediol Glycerin Triethanolamine Aminomethyl Propanol Panax Ginseng Root Extract Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract Aspartic Acid Alanine Glycine Serine Valine Isoleucine Proline Threonine Histidine Phenylalanine Glutamic Acid Arginine PCA Sodium PCA Sodium Lactate Fructose Glucose Sucrose Urea Hexyl Nicotinate Dextrin Citric Acid Polysorbate 20 Gellan Gum Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Sodium Chloride Hexylene Glycol Potassium Sorbate Sodium Benzoate 1,2-Hexanediol Caprylyl Glycol Water, Glycolic Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Aminomethyl Propanol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glutamic Acid, Arginine, PCA, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Urea, Hexyl Nicotinate, Dextrin, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Gellan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Sodium Hydroxide Beheneth-5 Dimethicone Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate Behenyl Alcohol Undecane Arachidyl Alcohol Stearyl Alcohol Cetyl Alcohol Phospholipids Allantoin Tocopheryl Acetate Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Bisabolol Arctium Lappa Seed Oil Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Panthenol Sodium Acrylates Copolymer Tridecane Hydrogenated Polydecene Sclerotium Gum Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate Disodium EDTA Tocopherol Chlorphenesin Benzoic Acid Sorbic Acid Ethylhexylglycerin Phenoxyethanol Water, Glycolic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Beheneth-5, Dimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Undecane, Arachidyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Phospholipids, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Tridecane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sclerotium Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol 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. Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with tons of research backing its benefits. It is found naturally in sugar cane but the form used in skincare is usually synthetic for purity and stability. Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells to allow newer and fresher ones to emerge. AHAs work by breaking down the structural “glue” that holds old skin cells in place. When that buildup is gone, your skin can renew itself more efficiently. Research also shows glycolic acid stimulates collagen production, helping to firm and thicken the skin over time. This is one of its biggest advantages over other AHAs. Overall, glycolic acid helps with: Fun fact: Glycolic acid boosts skin hydration by helping it produce molecules that increase hyaluronic acid naturally. To work best, glycolic acid products should have a pH between 3-4 (that’s where exfoliation is most effective but still gentle on skin). The pH and concentration of a product are key to its effectiveness: It is normal to feel a slight stinging sensation when using glycolic acid. This usually fades as your skin adjusts. Because glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in the AHA family, it can penetrate deeper, which enhances its effectiveness but also makes it more likely to irritate sensitive skin. If your skin is very sensitive or prone to rosacea, glycolic acid may be too strong; in that case, try milder options like lactic acid or a PHA instead. Recent studies suggest glycolic acid might even help protect against UV damage. But don’t skip sunscreen! Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun. Glycolic acid is a skincare superstar. It smooths, brightens, hydrates, and firms the skin. Unless you’re highly sensitive, it’s well worth adding to your routine. Read more about some other popular AHA's here: Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lis