Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA Versus First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA & AHA

The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA Versus First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA & AHA Detailed comparison of The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA versus First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA & AHA. This smoothing serum is formulated around Mandelic

This source-based comparison does not add ratings or recommend a winner.

The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA Versus First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA & AHA Detailed comparison of The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA versus First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA & AHA. This smoothing serum is formulated around Mandelic Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. Propanediol Water Mandelic Acid Glycerin Dimethyl Isosorbide Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract Pentylene Glycol Polysorbate 20 Sodium Hydroxide Ethylhexylglycerin 1,2-Hexanediol Caprylyl Glycol Propanediol, Water, Mandelic Acid, Glycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol Hamamelis Virginiana Water Glycolic Acid Salicylic Acid Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Sodium PCA Bisabolol Phenoxyethanol Potassium Sorbate Sodium Benzoate Benzoic Acid Tetrasodium EDTA Citric Acid Water, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium PCA, Bisabolol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid 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. Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable. It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better. The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane. Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins). True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics. Because it is derived from lauric acid, it 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!