Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant Versus PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant versus PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant .

Last updated on August 07, 2023. Published on December 20, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe exfoliators. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin and sensitive skin

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

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Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant

PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant

Exfoliator American Brand United States

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

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant 25 ingredients

PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant 25 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant 25 ingredients

PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant 25 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

BHA

Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing (2)

Reduces Irritation (2)

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Anti-Aging

Dark Spots

Scar Healing (2)

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin

Acne Trigger

Irritating

Rosacea

Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation (2)

Brightening

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin

Irritating (2)

Rosacea

Eczema

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant 25 ingredients

PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant 25 ingredients

Water • Butylene Glycol • Polysorbate 20 • Cetyl Alcohol • Salicylic Acid • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer • Cyclopentasiloxane • Sorbitan Stearate • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Lauric Acid • Allantoin • Glycerin • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Avena Sativa Kernel Extract • Epilobium Angustifolium Extract • Dimethicone • Xanthan Gum • Magnesium Aluminum Silicate • Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Sodium Hydroxide • Hexylene Glycol • Disodium EDTA • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenoxyethanol • 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

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 1.

PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 1.

Glycerin

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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 Glycerin

Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 12.

PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 10.

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

What it does: Abrasive, Antioxidant, Emollient, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract is is derived from colloidal oatmeal. It is formed from grounded oatmeal and a liquid base.

Besides being a healthy breakfast, oats have many benefits in skincare too.

This ingredient helps sooth, hydrate, and protect the skin. The starches in colloidal oatmeal are able to bind water, keeping the skin hydrated.

The cellulose and fiber in colloidal oatmeal help reduce inflammation. This can also help the skin feel softer.

Colloidal Oatmeal is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radical molecules. These molecules may damage skin cells.

Avenacins found in colloidal oatmeal have anti-fungal properties. The saponins have a cleaning affect.

Overall, colloidal oatmeal is great at providing the skin with moisture and help sooth irritation. It also protects the skin in various ways.

Learn more about Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 14.

PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 25.

Sodium Hydroxide

What it does: Buffering

Community Rating: Mixed

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 Hydroxide

Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 20.

PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 19.

Ethylhexylglycerin

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Paula's Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 23.

PCA Skin Daily Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 15.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.