COSRX AHA/BHA Refresh Vitamin C Booster Serum Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Mentha Haplocalix Extract
MaskingActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycolic Acid, Betaine, Sodium Hydroxide, Water, Panthenol, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Betaine Salicylate, Alpha-Arbutin, Menthyl Lactate, Mentha Haplocalix Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
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.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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!
Learn more about Water
