Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel versus Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA .
Published on November 14, 2022
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, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
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
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel 27 ingredients
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA 29 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
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 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
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 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel 27 ingredients
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA 29 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
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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 2 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:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient 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 2 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 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:
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:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel 27 ingredients
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA 29 ingredients
Water • Dimethicone • Cyclopentasiloxane • Glycereth-26 • Glycerin • Cyclohexasiloxane • Peg-80 Sorbitan Laurate • Dimethiconol • Polyacrylate-13 • Panthenol • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Polyisobutene • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Hexylene Glycol • Bisabolol • Polysorbate 20 • Ppg-26-Buteth-26 • Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane • Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate • Ethylhexyl Salicylate • Lactic Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Parfum
Water • Butylene Glycol • Cetyl Alcohol • Ppg-14 Butyl Ether • Salicylic Acid • Dimethicone • Tocopheryl Acetate • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract • Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract • Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract • Bisabolol • Allantoin • Cyclopentasiloxane • Cyclohexasiloxane • Dimethiconol • Peg-40 Stearate • Sorbitan Stearate • Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer • Polyacrylamide • C13-14 Isoparaffin • Laureth-7 • Disodium EDTA • Sodium Hydroxide • Hexylene Glycol • Caprylyl Glycol • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Ethylhexylglycerin • 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 WaterProactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA contains this as ingredient number 1.
Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 2.
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA contains this as ingredient number 6.
Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone used to improve texture and trap moisture. An easier name for this is D5.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
D5 is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneProactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 3.
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA contains this as ingredient number 14.
Cyclohexasiloxane is a type of silicone more commonly known as D6. It is an emollient and solvent.
Cyclohexasiloxane is used to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. When applied to the skin, Cyclohexasiloxane evaporates and leaves behind a silky feel.
As an emollient, it can help the skin feel soft and hydrated. It is also used to reduce frizz in hair products.
Learn more about CyclohexasiloxaneProactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 6.
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA contains this as ingredient number 15.
Dimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 8.
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA contains this as ingredient number 16.
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 GlycolProactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 15.
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA contains this as ingredient number 26.
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.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 16.
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA contains this as ingredient number 28.
Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant. Glycols are a class of alcohols. Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, Hexylene Glycol helps gather dirt and oil on your skin to be washed away.
As an emulsifier, Hexylene Glycol helps keep water and oil together. This prevents them from separating in a product. Hexylene Glycol also thins out the texture of a product by lessening viscosity.
Hexylene Glycol has a small molecular weight.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolProactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 17.
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA contains this as ingredient number 25.
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 BisabololProactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 18.
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA contains this as ingredient number 12.
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.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 26.
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA contains this as ingredient number 29.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel 27 ingredients
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA 29 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel 27 ingredients
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA 29 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel 27 ingredients
Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA 29 ingredients
BubbIes
I'm often confused why a brand like Paula's Choice would have such irritating and comedogenic ingredients in so many of their products...
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