Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of FaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel .
Published on August 01, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free exfoliators. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain BHA, hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Exfoliator
Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.
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
FaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 19 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel 25 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
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:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
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:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
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
FaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 19 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel 25 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 7 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 6 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients 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.
FaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 19 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel 25 ingredients
Water • Propanediol • Butyloctyl Salicylate • Carnitine • Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate • Salicylic Acid • Glycerin • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate • Tocopherol • Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose • Glyceryl Caprylate • Sodium Anisate • Sodium Levulinate • Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate • Xanthan Gum • Sodium Hyaluronate
Water • Aminomethyl Propanol • Glycolic Acid • Lactic Acid • Mandelic Acid • Isoamyl Laurate • Tartaric Acid • Propanediol • Salicylic Acid • Butylene Glycol • Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate • Glycyrrhetinic Acid • Glycerin • Tocopherol • Bisabolol • Allantoin • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Xanthan Gum • Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Titanium Dioxide • CI 77015 • 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 WaterFaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel contains this as ingredient number 1.
Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.
It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolFaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 contains this as ingredient number 2.
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel contains this as ingredient number 8.
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.
This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.
Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.
In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidFaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 contains this as ingredient number 6.
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel contains this as ingredient number 9.
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 GlycerinFaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 contains this as ingredient number 7.
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel contains this as ingredient number 14.
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.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolFaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 contains this as ingredient number 12.
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel contains this as ingredient number 15.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumFaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 contains this as ingredient number 18.
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel contains this as ingredient number 20.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateFaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 contains this as ingredient number 19.
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel contains this as ingredient number 12.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
FaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 19 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel 25 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
FaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 19 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel 25 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
FaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 19 ingredients
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