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Updated on December 05, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe . They have a total of 1 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, brightening skin, oily skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant US
Milk Makeup Bionic Liquid Blush Fly

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Notable Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Water Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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.

Methylpropanediol Solvent

Methylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.

Butylene Glycol Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
1 / 0

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

1 Com. / 0 Irr.
Salicylic Acid Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning
BHA  •  Preservative  •  5 Benefits  •  4 Concerns

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Polysorbate 20 Emulsifying
0 / 0
Not safe for Fungal Acne

Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.

0 Com. / 0 Irr.
Very Disliked Full details ->
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Masking

Camellia Oleifera Leaf is a green tea plant native to China. It is closely related to Camellia sinensis. Both plants have very similar properties.

Unknown Full details ->
Sodium Hydroxide Buffering

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.

Tetrasodium EDTA

Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.

Disliked Full details ->
Bionic Liquid Blush
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin  •  2 Concerns

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter is a plant lipid from the fruit of the Shea Tree. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.

Very Disliked Full details ->
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil Emollient, Skin Conditioning
0-2 / 0
Oil  •  Helps hydrate Dry Skin  •  Not safe for Fungal Acne

This ingredient is the fixed oil extracted from seeds of the desert shrub Jojoba. It is more commonly known as jojoba oil. The seed oil is liquid wax ester from the plant. It is non-comedogenic.

0-2 Com. / 0 Irr.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Masking, Skin Conditioning

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.

Silica Abrasive, Absorbent
Exfoliant  •  2 Concerns

Silica is a mineral naturally found in our skin. It helps to thicken and smooth the texture of a product. It also acts as an agent for other ingredients by increasing the absorption of other ingredients into the skin.

Disliked Full details ->
Kaolin Abrasive, Absorbent, Cosmetic Colorant
0 / 0
Exfoliant  •  2 Benefits

Kaolin is a clay. It is used for oil control and to help minimize pores. Like other clays, kaolin has the ability to absorb excess sebum or oil. This can help clean out pores and mattify the skin.

0 Com. / 0 Irr.
Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides Emollient, Emulsion Stabilising
Not safe for Fungal Acne

Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides isn't fungal acne safe.

Very Disliked Full details ->
C9-12 Alkane Solvent

C9-12 Alkane is synethically created using alkanes, or paraffins. It is added to products as a solvent. This means its main purpose is to help dissolve ingredients and create even texture.

Unknown Full details ->
Tribehenin Emollient, Skin Conditioning
0 / 0
Not safe for Fungal Acne

Tribehenin comes from glycerin and behenic acid.

0 Com. / 0 Irr.
Very Disliked Full details ->
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer

We don't have a description for Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer.

Unknown Full details ->
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer

We don't have a description for Vp/Eicosene Copolymer.

Unknown Full details ->
Octyldodecanol Emollient, Masking

Octyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol. It is primarily used to enhance the texture of products.

Disliked Full details ->
Glyceryl Rosinate Perfuming
Fragrance

Glyceryl Rosinate is a fragrance.

Unknown Full details ->
Tocopherol Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
0-3 / 0-3
Vitamin E  •  Antioxidant  •  4 Benefits  •  May cause irritation

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

0-3 Com. / 0-3 Irr.
Ascorbyl Palmitate Antioxidant, Masking
2 / 0
Vitamin C  •  Antioxidant  •  6 Benefits  •  Not safe for Fungal Acne

Ascorbyl Palmitate is created by combining pure Vitamin C and palmitic acid. It is an antioxidant and helps reduce hyperpigmentation.

2 Com. / 0 Irr.
Disliked Full details ->
Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1 Humectant, Skin Conditioning, UV Filter
Peptide

Peptides are amino acids naturally found in your skin. These amino acids make up many proteins your skin uses. Collagen is made up of peptides. Collagen is responsible for keeping your skin plump and youthful.

Unknown Full details ->
Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract Skin Conditioning

This ingredient is the stem of the Reishi mushroom.

Unknown Full details ->
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract Antioxidant, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Antioxidant

Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract is an antioxidant.

Candelilla Cera Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne

Candelilla Cera isn't fungal acne safe.

Disliked Full details ->
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning
0-1 / 0
Fragrance  •  Oil  •  Not safe for Fungal Acne

Ricinus Communis Seed Oil is the INCI name for castor oil.

0-1 Com. / 0 Irr.
Disliked Full details ->
Sodium Hyaluronate Humectant, Skin Conditioning
0 / 0
Hyaluronic Acid

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

0 Com. / 0 Irr.
Disteardimonium Hectorite Stabilising

Disteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.

Disliked Full details ->
Water Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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.

Citric Acid Buffering, Masking
AHA  •  4 Benefits  •  2 Concerns

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

Disliked Full details ->
Caprylyl Glycol Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

Potassium Sorbate Preservative
Preservative

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

Disliked Full details ->
CI 77891 Cosmetic Colorant

Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.

Disliked Full details ->
CI 15850 Cosmetic Colorant
1 / 0

Ci 15850 is the pigment color red. It is an azo dye and created synthetically.

1 Com. / 0 Irr.
Very Disliked Full details ->
CI 19140 Cosmetic Colorant

Ci 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.

Unknown Full details ->

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Ingredient Ratings

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
2
3
2
1
liked
mixed
disliked
not rated
Bionic Liquid Blush
6
2
13
7
liked
mixed
disliked
not rated

When to use

3,141 Routines
27% use in am
73% use in pm
69% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
2 Routines
100% use in am
0% use in pm
100% use every day

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant 8 ingredients

4.4 /5
from 35 ratings
Works Well (7) Expensive (5) No Scent (2) Light (2) Absorbs Well (1) Sticky (1)
skinogre's avatar

skinogre

26 days ago · Oily Skin
Review

The first night I used Paula’s choice exfoliant just once, it cleaned up my skin scraping it whole, I was left GLOWING but it felt kind of tight...

The first night I used Paula’s choice exfoliant just once, it cleaned up my skin scraping it whole, I was left GLOWING but it felt kind of tight like I had been using corsx salicylic acid for 3 days straight, it takes some getting used to, to the extent that the instructions literally say to start off once a week and slowly build your usage up overtime, it’s really strong but does the job well. I’ve noticed that if I overuse it, I get extremely coarse skin and whiteheads slowly appear in the places I use it most (my nose). This is why I highly advise to purchase the small sample bottle first and to build your way up, at MOST every other day. I’ve used it 3-4 times a week since and on the few days I don’t I use a daily-friendly exfoliant toner pad so my skin barrier isn’t destroyed but bacteria doesn’t also build. It dries up all the forehead gunk, removes residue on the sides of my nose and dried up the pimples I had been trying to rid of for so long, my skin is left gleaming, exfoliated as ever, and I know my skin wouldn’t be as flawless without it. 30ml sample version Lasted 2 months from Dec-Feb used every other day. I now use the 118ml version since Feb and there’s plenty left, will most likely last for about 7 months and 3 weeks in total (based on how long i went through the sample size). As much as I love this I deeply suggest researching and sampling because there are mixed reviews of people claiming that it ruined their skin which doesn’t surprise me -since it is pretty harsh exfoliant and skin is diverse. I tend to be wary of western products but one thing western products do well is harsh exfoliants. If you have a lot of bacterial residue, sebaceous filaments and the feeling of gunk on your face even after your exfoliant, this is a good one to consider. This combined with my Needley daily Toner pad is the only reason why my forehead looks like a glazed doughnut

MichelleR's avatar

MichelleR

6 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

Viral for a REASON
This product is popular for a reason. Back in the day [showing my age] we used to use Noxzema and Stridex for our acne. But...

Viral for a REASON
This product is popular for a reason. Back in the day [showing my age] we used to use Noxzema and Stridex for our acne. But those products were so harsh, burned, and didn't produce any results. This product not only clears pores but is also nourishing [suspect it is the green tea]. After I apply, my skin doesn't feel raw or sensitive. The formulation of this product is FANTASTIC. Truly viral for a reason. It will forever be in my skincare collection.

Milk Makeup Bionic Liquid Blush 28 ingredients

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