Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment versus Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant .
Last updated on September 15, 2023. Published on January 21, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens or parabens
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Exfoliator
Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.
Price
Ingredient Info
CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment 29 ingredients
Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant 35 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment 29 ingredients
Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant 35 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment 29 ingredients
Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant 35 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate • Cetearyl Alcohol • Dimethicone • Glycolic Acid • Lactic Acid • Sodium Hydroxide • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Carbomer • Cetearyl Glucoside • Behentrimonium Methosulfate • Triethyl Citrate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Cholesterol • Phenoxyethanol • Phenylethyl Resorcinol • Isopropyl Myristate • Caprylyl Glycol • Citric Acid • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Xanthan Gum • Phytosphingosine • Benzoic Acid
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
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterCeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinCeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment contains this as ingredient number 2.
Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 4.
Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment contains this as ingredient number 5.
Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 7.
Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous AHA with research to back up its benefits. Its main role is to peel the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Glycolic Acid has shown to boost collage production, a protein that helps skin stay firm. Overall, Glycolic Acid helps with improving uneven tone, rough patches of skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. It also increases skin hydration by playing a role in creating molecules that create hyaluronic acid naturally.
When applying Glycolic Acid, it is normal to feel slight stinging. The pH value and concentration of glycolic acid play a role in the effectiveness of the product.
Recent studies have shown Glycolic Acid may protect the skin against UV damage. However, you should always wear SPF, especially when using exfoliants.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidCeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment contains this as ingredient number 6.
Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 2.
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.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideCeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment contains this as ingredient number 8.
Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 5.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateCeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment contains this as ingredient number 9.
Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 22.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment contains this as ingredient number 21.
Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 35.
Benzoic Acid is used to preserve and adjust the pH of products.
The antimicrobial property of Benzoic Acid helps elongate a product's shelf life. Its main role is to reduce fungi growth and is not found to be effective at fighting bacteria. Therefore Benzoic Acid is always added along with other preservatives.
In its pure form, Benzoic Acid looks like a white crystalline solid. It has slight solubility in water.
The name of Benzoic Acid comes from gum benzoin, which used to be the sole source of deriving this ingredient. Benzoic Acid is the most simple aromatic carboxylic acid.
Benzoic Acid is naturally occuring in strawberries, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. It has a slight scent but is not considered to be a fragrance.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidCeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment contains this as ingredient number 29.
Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 32.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment 29 ingredients
Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant 35 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment 29 ingredients
Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant 35 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 15 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment.
See 15 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 15 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice 8% AHA Lotion Exfoliant.
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