Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant versus Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid .
Last updated on March 06, 2024. Published on March 06, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe exfoliators. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain BHA
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, 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
Paula's Choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant 26 ingredients
Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid 21 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 🎉
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 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not 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 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
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
Paula's Choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant 26 ingredients
Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid 21 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
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:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 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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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Paula's Choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant 26 ingredients
Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid 21 ingredients
Water • Methylpropanediol • Dicaprylyl Carbonate • C15-19 Alkane • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Salicylic Acid • Propanediol • Inulin • Caprylyl Glycol • Allantoin • Tocopherol • Sodium Hydroxide • Ethylhexylglycerin • Hexylene Glycol • Sorbitan Isostearate • Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide • Glycerin • Laminaria Digitata Extract • Albatrellus Confluens Extract • Glycine Soja Oil • Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract • Galactoarabinan • Citric Acid • Schizophyllan • Maltodextrin • Phenoxyethanol
Water • Butylene Glycol • Propanediol • 1,2-Hexanediol • Salicylic Acid • Castanea Crenata Shell Extract • Sodium Hydroxide • Glycerin • Biosaccharide Gum-1 • Ethylhexylglycerin • Xanthan Gum • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Disodium EDTA • Citric Acid • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate • Hyaluronic Acid • Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid • Sodium Citrate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Salix Alba Bark Extract • Allantoin
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 WaterPaula's Choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 1.
Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid 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 AcidPaula's Choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 6.
Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid contains this as ingredient number 5.
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 PropanediolPaula's Choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 7.
Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid contains this as ingredient number 3.
Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.
Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.
Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Learn more about AllantoinPaula's Choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 10.
Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid contains this as ingredient number 21.
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 HydroxidePaula's Choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 12.
Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid contains this as ingredient number 7.
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 CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 13.
Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid contains this as ingredient number 10.
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 GlycerinPaula's Choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 17.
Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid contains this as ingredient number 8.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidPaula's Choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 23.
Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid contains this as ingredient number 14.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Paula's Choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant 26 ingredients
Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid 21 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Paula's Choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant 26 ingredients
Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid 21 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Paula's Choice CALM 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant 26 ingredients
Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid 21 ingredients
BrittBrine
HG! This is my favorite chemical exfoliant I have ever used! I will use this forever!
It's a watery toner but the next morning my face looks so...
HG! This is my favorite chemical exfoliant I have ever used! I will use this forever!
It's a watery toner but the next morning my face looks so nice and feels so smooth. It has helped with acne and doesn't sting if using on healthy skin. It also doesn't dry out my skin if I leave it on for a while before putting other products on.
ChantelleAng
GREAT exfoliator for ppl with sensitive skin. so gentle and is very effective. its so much better than paula's choice for me, so much more gentle...
GREAT exfoliator for ppl with sensitive skin. so gentle and is very effective. its so much better than paula's choice for me, so much more gentle highly recc!!!
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