First Aid Beauty 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Clearing Pads Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingKaolin
Abrasive
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEpilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningEnantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Kaolin, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Capryloyl Glycine, Hexylene Glycol, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Citric Acid, Oleanolic Acid
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
