Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Medik8 Press and Clear Tonic versus Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant .
Last updated on August 03, 2023. Published on September 28, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain BHA and exfoliants
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens 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.
Toner
Toners are used as a โlast-stepโ cleanser, a pH balancer, add moisture to the skin, or may help in reducing impurities on the skin. They have a liquid consistency and are usually used after cleansers but before treatments.
Exfoliator
Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.
Ingredient Info
Medik8 Press and Clear Tonic 30 ingredients
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant 25 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols ๐
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons ๐
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances ๐
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates ๐
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens ๐
Oil Free
This product is free of oils ๐
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients ๐
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs ๐
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens ๐
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan ๐ฅ
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free ๐
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols ๐
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances ๐
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates ๐
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens ๐
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 ๐
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens ๐
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan ๐ฅ
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free ๐
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Medik8 Press and Clear Tonic 30 ingredients
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant 25 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
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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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient 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:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Medik8 Press and Clear Tonic 30 ingredients
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant 25 ingredients
Water โข Propanediol โข Glycereth-26 โข Salicylic Acid โข Tranexamic Acid โข Dimethyl Isosorbide โข Cyclodextrin โข Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice โข Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate โข Lecithin โข Oryza Sativa Lees Extract โข Xanthan Gum โข Ethylhexylglycerin โข Butylene Glycol โข Sclerotium Gum โข 1,2-Hexanediol โข Pullulan โข Disodium EDTA โข Sodium Hydroxide โข Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 โข Phenoxyethanol โข Buteth-3 โข Hydroxyacetophenone โข Sodium Metabisulfite โข Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate โข Tributyl Citrate โข Potassium Sorbate โข Silica โข Sodium Benzoate โข Citric Acid
Water โข Butylene Glycol โข Polysorbate 20 โข Cetyl Alcohol โข Salicylic Acid โข Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer โข Cyclopentasiloxane โข Sorbitan Stearate โข Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract โข Lauric Acid โข Allantoin โข Glycerin โข Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract โข Avena Sativa Kernel Extract โข Epilobium Angustifolium Extract โข Dimethicone โข Xanthan Gum โข Magnesium Aluminum Silicate โข Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil โข Sodium Hydroxide โข Hexylene Glycol โข Disodium EDTA โข Ethylhexylglycerin โข Phenoxyethanol โข Caprylyl Glycol
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 WaterMedik8 Press and Clear Tonic contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 AcidMedik8 Press and Clear Tonic contains this as ingredient number 4.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 5.
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 GumMedik8 Press and Clear Tonic contains this as ingredient number 12.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 17.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Medik8 Press and Clear Tonic contains this as ingredient number 13.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 23.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
Medik8 Press and Clear Tonic contains this as ingredient number 14.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 2.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAMedik8 Press and Clear Tonic contains this as ingredient number 18.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 22.
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 HydroxideMedik8 Press and Clear Tonic contains this as ingredient number 19.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 20.
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.
Medik8 Press and Clear Tonic contains this as ingredient number 21.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 24.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Medik8 Press and Clear Tonic 30 ingredients
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant 25 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Medik8 Press and Clear Tonic 30 ingredients
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant 25 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Medik8 Press and Clear Tonic 30 ingredients
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant 25 ingredients
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