Paula's Choice Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide Versus tbh. Acne Hack Spot Treatment
Updated on January 15, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 3 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Paula's Choice Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide 14 ingredients
tbh. Acne Hack Spot Treatment 18 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Paula's Choice Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide 14 ingredients
tbh. Acne Hack Spot Treatment 18 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Benzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Water, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Benzalkonium Chloride, Stearic Acid
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Paula's Choice Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide 14 ingredients
tbh. Acne Hack Spot Treatment 18 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Paula's Choice Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide 14 ingredients
genuinely stabilized my acne, don’t get much too any breakouts anymore and i have oily acne prone skin (only con would be that it has lightened my skin over time)
Effective at fighting acne without lots of irritation
tbh. Acne Hack Spot Treatment 18 ingredients
Hands down the most effective spot treatment I have used, and I’ve tried them all. I love that it works so well to clear up a pimple but doesn’t dry out the surrounding skin like so many other spot treatments do.
