Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA versus Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA .
Last updated on September 15, 2023. Published on February 19, 2022
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA, BHA, ceramides 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 oils, 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.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Price
Ingredient Info
Paula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA 36 ingredients
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA 34 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 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
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 🎉
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 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are 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
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA 34 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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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
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA 34 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 • Butylene Glycol • Glycolic Acid • Glycerin • Lactic Acid • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Malic Acid • Tartaric Acid • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 • Ceramide Ng • Salicylic Acid • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Punica Granatum Extract • Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract • Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract • Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract • Camellia Oleifera Leaf • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Peucedanum Graveolens Extract • Allantoin • Adenosine • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Bisabolol • Polyquaternium-10 • Xanthan Gum • Carbomer • Polysorbate 20 • Sodium Bicarbonate • Sodium Hydroxide • Aminomethyl Propanol • Phenoxyethanol • Benzyl Alcohol
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.
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous AHA with research to back up its benefits. Its main role is to peel the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Glycolic Acid has shown to boost collage production, a protein that helps skin stay firm. Overall, Glycolic Acid helps with improving uneven tone, rough patches of skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. It also increases skin hydration by playing a role in creating molecules that create hyaluronic acid naturally.
When applying Glycolic Acid, it is normal to feel slight stinging. The pH value and concentration of glycolic acid play a role in the effectiveness of the product.
Recent studies have shown Glycolic Acid may protect the skin against UV damage. However, you should always wear SPF, especially when using exfoliants.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidPaula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA contains this as ingredient number 2.
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA contains this as ingredient number 3.
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.
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA contains this as ingredient number 2.
Ceramide NG is a type of Ceramide. The NG stands for a sphinganine base.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.
Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Ceramide NP
Learn more about Ceramide NgPaula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA contains this as ingredient number 9.
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA contains this as ingredient number 11.
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.
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA contains this as ingredient number 12.
Bisabolol is pimarily used to add fragrance to a product. However, it is also famous for helping soothe skin.
Bisabolol comes from German chamomile essential oil. Synthetic Bisabolol has been shown to be less effective.
Bisabolol helps soothe skin. It does this by blocking the inflammatory signals, helping to reduce your body's reaction to irritation.
Bisabolol also interferes with the process of hyperpigmentation. This can help with reducing dark spots and uneven tone.
Bisabolol is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. By fighting these free-radicals, Bisabolol may slow down signs of aging.
Studies have shown Bisabolol to have antimicrobial properties and may be a fungicide. These properties help preserve a product's shelf life.
Bisabolol also helps the absorption of other ingredients.
Learn more about BisabololPaula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA contains this as ingredient number 18.
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA contains this as ingredient number 25.
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 Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA contains this as ingredient number 19.
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA contains this as ingredient number 22.
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.
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA contains this as ingredient number 29.
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.
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA contains this as ingredient number 31.
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.
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA contains this as ingredient number 33.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Paula's Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA 36 ingredients
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA 34 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
Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA 34 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 11 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA.
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