Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

ZO Skin Health Oil Control Pads Versus Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant

ZO Skin Health Oil Control Pads Versus Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant Detailed comparison of ZO Skin Health Oil Control Pads versus Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant. This oil-control toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Salicylic Acid and Mand

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ZO Skin Health Oil Control Pads Versus Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant Detailed comparison of ZO Skin Health Oil Control Pads versus Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant. This oil-control toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Salicylic Acid and Mandelic Acid to balance excess oil and clear breakouts. This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores. Water Alcohol Butylene Glycol Salicylic Acid Mandelic Acid Urea Hamamelis Virginiana Extract Rosa Canina Fruit Extract Pterocarpus Soyauxii Wood Extract Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract Hordeum Distichon Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Artemisia Vulgaris Extract Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract Crithmum Maritimum Extract Spiraea Ulmaria Extract Menthyl Lactate Sodium Hydroxide Glycolic Acid Sodium Carbonate Sodium Chloride Disodium EDTA T-Butyl Alcohol Denatonium Benzoate Phenoxyethanol Parfum Citronellol Hexyl Cinnamal Limonene Linalool Water, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Urea, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Pterocarpus Soyauxii Wood Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Hordeum Distichon Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Menthyl Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, T-Butyl Alcohol, Denatonium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool Polysorbate 20 Cetyl Alcohol Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer Cyclopentasiloxane Sorbitan Stearate 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 Hexylene Glycol Ethylhexylglycerin 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. Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons: Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients. Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness. Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume. Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside. In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin. There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection. Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums. A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity. The quality of the extract matters a lot here: Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients. Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water). Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air. This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with: On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it. One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin). Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption. You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%. 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 onl