Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA versus Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum .
Published on January 15, 2022
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 AHA, BHA and peptides
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Price
Ingredient Info
Paula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA 36 ingredients
Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum 39 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
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:
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 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
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 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Paula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA 36 ingredients
Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum 39 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Paula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA 36 ingredients
Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum 39 ingredients
Water • Glycolic Acid • Cetyl Alcohol • Butylene Glycol • Dimethicone • Polyacrylamide • Ppg-14 Butyl Ether • Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 • Ceramide Ng • Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane • Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane • Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane • Epigallocatechin Gallate • Salicylic Acid • Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates • Peg-10 Phytosterol • Cucumis Melo Juice • Bisabolol • Allantoin • Cyclopentasiloxane • Cyclohexasiloxane • Dimethiconol • Tribehenin • Polysorbate 20 • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Peg-40 Stearate • Sorbitan Stearate • Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer • Disodium EDTA • C13-14 Isoparaffin • Laureth-7 • Sodium Hydroxide • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Hexylene Glycol • Phenoxyethanol
Water • Mandelic Acid • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Niacinamide • Polysorbate 20 • Lactic Acid • Rosa Canina Fruit Oil • Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil • Salicylic Acid • Superoxide Dismutase • Bakuchiol • Sodium Hyaluronate • Rumex Occidentalis Extract • Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract • Nonapeptide-1 • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 • Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40 • Pterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract • Glutamic Acid • Phenyl T-Butylnitrone • Resveratrol Dimethyl Ether • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Panthenol • Tocopheryl Acetate • Ascorbic Acid • Tocopherol • Xanthan Gum • Sclerotium Gum • Ethylhexylglycerin • Caprylyl Glycol • Sorbitol • Dextran • Sodium Gluconate • Disodium Succinate • Acetyl Tributyl Citrate • O-Cymen-5-Ol • Sodium Hydroxide • 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 WaterPaula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA contains this as ingredient number 1.
Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
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.
Paula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA contains this as ingredient number 4.
Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
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 Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA contains this as ingredient number 14.
Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Paula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA contains this as ingredient number 24.
Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
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 Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA contains this as ingredient number 32.
Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 38.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolPaula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA contains this as ingredient number 33.
Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.
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 Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA contains this as ingredient number 34.
Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 30.
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.
Paula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA contains this as ingredient number 36.
Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 39.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Paula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA 36 ingredients
Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum 39 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Paula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA 36 ingredients
Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum 39 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 1 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA.
See 1 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 30 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum.
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