Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice The UnScrub versus Medik8 Pore Refining Scrub .
Last updated on December 28, 2023. Published on January 08, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free . They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for brightening skin and sensitive skin
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 need an update? Let us know.
Face Cleanser
Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).
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 The UnScrub 22 ingredients
Medik8 Pore Refining Scrub 40 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 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
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:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Paula's Choice The UnScrub 22 ingredients
Medik8 Pore Refining Scrub 40 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient 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:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients 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:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients 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 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 7 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.
Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Paula's Choice The UnScrub 22 ingredients
Medik8 Pore Refining Scrub 40 ingredients
Water • Jojoba Esters • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Peg-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate • Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate • Tocopheryl Acetate • Decyl Glucoside • Ppg-20 Methyl Glucose Ether • Glyceryl Stearate • Stearyl Alcohol • Polyacrylamide • Solanum Tuberosum Peel Extract • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract • Xanthan Gum • C13-14 Isoparaffin • Caprylyl Glycol • Citric Acid • Disodium EDTA • Laureth-7 • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin
Water • Glycerin • Diatomaceous Earth • Jojoba Esters • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Behenyl Alcohol • Kaolin • Niacinamide • Dicaprylyl Ether • Xanthan Gum • Cetyl Alcohol • Salicylic Acid • Palmitic Acid • Glycol Distearate • Glyceryl Stearate Se • Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate • Mandelic Acid • Stearic Acid • Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil • Titanium Dioxide • Sucrose Stearate • Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract • Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract • Dimethicone • Phenethyl Alcohol • Citric Acid • Caprylyl Glycol • Allantoin • Tocopheryl Acetate • Potassium Sorbate • Hamamelis Virginiana Water • Sodium Hydroxide • Carbomer • Phytic Acid • Alcohol • Myristic Acid • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract • Tocopherol • Limonene
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 The UnScrub contains this as ingredient number 1.
Medik8 Pore Refining Scrub contains this as ingredient number 1.
Jojoba Esters is a wax created from Jojoba oil. It is an emollient and film-forming ingredient. In bead form, it is an exfoliator.
This ingredient has high oxidative stability, meaning it doesn't break down when exposed to oxygen.
Its similarity to our skin's natural oils makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe our skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, keeping skin hydrated.
It is created using either the hydrogenation or transesterification processes on jojoba oil.
Learn more about Jojoba EstersPaula's Choice The UnScrub contains this as ingredient number 2.
Medik8 Pore Refining Scrub contains this as ingredient number 4.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglyceridePaula's Choice The UnScrub contains this as ingredient number 3.
Medik8 Pore Refining Scrub contains this as ingredient number 5.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetatePaula's Choice The UnScrub contains this as ingredient number 6.
Medik8 Pore Refining Scrub contains this as ingredient number 29.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumPaula's Choice The UnScrub contains this as ingredient number 15.
Medik8 Pore Refining Scrub contains this as ingredient number 10.
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 The UnScrub contains this as ingredient number 17.
Medik8 Pore Refining Scrub contains this as ingredient number 27.
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 The UnScrub contains this as ingredient number 18.
Medik8 Pore Refining Scrub contains this as ingredient number 26.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Paula's Choice The UnScrub 22 ingredients
Medik8 Pore Refining Scrub 40 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Paula's Choice The UnScrub 22 ingredients
Medik8 Pore Refining Scrub 40 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 6 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice The UnScrub.
See 6 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 5 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Medik8 Pore Refining Scrub.
See 5 alternatives
