Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant versus Holy Snails First Snow Essence .
Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on April 21, 2023
Overview
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, brightening skin, sensitive skin and reducing pores
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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.
Essence
Essences are used to prep skin for further treatment and may provide extra skin benefits. They are usually used before serum and moisturizers. Essences are thought to have originated in either Japan or Korea and is an essential step in K-Beauty.
Price
Ingredient Info
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant 13 ingredients
Holy Snails First Snow Essence 42 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 🎉
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 🎉
Contains Parabens
Ingredients in this product that are types 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:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant 13 ingredients
Holy Snails First Snow Essence 42 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
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 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
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:
Benefits
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 7 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 6 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 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:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients 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 Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant 13 ingredients
Holy Snails First Snow Essence 42 ingredients
Water • Hydrolyzed Oats • Eleutherococcus Senticosus Root Extract • Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract • Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract • Centella Asiatica Extract • Chamomilla Vulgaris Extract • Zingiber Officinale Root Extract • Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract • Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Helichrysum Italicum Extract • Hibiscus Hamabo Extract • Iris Florentina Flower Extract • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil • Ceramide 3 • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Phytosphingosine • Cholesterol • Abronia Villosa Leaf Extract • Agave Americana Stem Extract • Nelumbo Nucifera Extract • Rose Extract • Fouquieria Splendens Stem Extract • Tremella Fuciformis Extract • Opuntia Coccinellifera Flower Extract • Yucca Brevifolia Root Extract • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Carbomer • Xanthan Gum • Glycerin • Caprylyl Glycol • Hexylene Glycol • Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract • Iodized Garlic Extract • Propylene Glycol • Diazolidinyl Urea • Methylparaben • Propylparaben • Disodium EDTA
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 Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 1.
Holy Snails First Snow Essence contains this as ingredient number 1.
Phytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Phytosphingosine is already present in our skin. On our skin, it is a building block for ceramides.
Phytosphingosine tells our skin to increase its natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.
Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.
Phytosphingosine is also abundant in plants and fungi.
More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:
Learn more about PhytosphingosinePaula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant contains this as ingredient number 6.
Holy Snails First Snow Essence contains this as ingredient number 20.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant 13 ingredients
Holy Snails First Snow Essence 42 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant 13 ingredients
Holy Snails First Snow Essence 42 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant 13 ingredients
MichelleR
I started using this product during the day and layering it under my sunscreen. It wasn't bad for that, but I just find using it at night is much...
I started using this product during the day and layering it under my sunscreen. It wasn't bad for that, but I just find using it at night is much more effective. It is a thick enough consistency that it can go on as the last layer of a night-time routine and act as an overnight mask.
I love the BHA liquid exfoliant and use that during the day now, due to its quick absorption. I am not able to use the BHA lotion exfoliant at all, due to my Dimethicone allergy. The gel and liquid products are my GO TO products when i'm battling a break out. I literally wake up with better skin.
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Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 5 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant.
See 5 alternativesWe haven't detected any alternatives for Holy Snails First Snow Essence.