Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Vivier Pharma Exfoliant Forte Versus Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA

Vivier Pharma Exfoliant Forte Versus Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA Detailed comparison of Vivier Pharma Exfoliant Forte versus Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA. This smoothing treatment is formulated aroun

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

Vivier Pharma Exfoliant Forte Versus Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA Detailed comparison of Vivier Pharma Exfoliant Forte versus Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA. This smoothing treatment is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. This smoothing treatment is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles. Water Glycolic Acid Arginine Triethanolamine Cetearyl Alcohol Polysorbate 60 Glycerin Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Lactic Acid Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Stearic Acid Phenoxyethanol Methylparaben Ethylparaben Propylparaben Butylparaben Cetyl Alcohol Dimethicone Water, Glycolic Acid, Arginine, Triethanolamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lactic Acid, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone Butylene Glycol Malic Acid Tartaric Acid Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Ceramide Ng Salicylic Acid Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Punica Granatum Extract Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract Camellia Oleifera Leaf Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Peucedanum Graveolens Extract Allantoin Adenosine Hydrogenated Lecithin Bisabolol Polyquaternium-10 Xanthan Gum Carbomer Polysorbate 20 Sodium Bicarbonate Sodium Hydroxide Aminomethyl Propanol Benzyl Alcohol Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Malic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ceramide Ng, Salicylic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Peucedanum Graveolens Extract, Allantoin, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Bisabolol, Polyquaternium-10, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel. While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns. Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source. This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out. This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%. 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