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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner versus Paula's Choice CLEAR Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution With 2% BHA .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on May 17, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 3 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain BHA

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, 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.

Toner South Korean Brand South Korea
Exfoliator American Brand United States

Toner

Toners are used as a “last-step” cleanser, a pH balancer, add moisture to the skin, or may help in reducing impurities on the skin. They have a liquid consistency and are usually used after cleansers but before treatments.

Exfoliator

Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.

Price

Shop

Buy AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner

Starts at $11.29
Shop

Buy CLEAR Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution With 2% BHA

Starts at $34.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

BHA
PHA
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin (3)
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (3)
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying (2)
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

BHA

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin
Reduces Large Pores
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner contains this as ingredient number 1.

Paula's Choice CLEAR Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution With 2% BHA contains this as ingredient number 2.

2
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner contains this as ingredient number 2.

Paula's Choice CLEAR Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution With 2% BHA contains this as ingredient number 4.

3
What it does: Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

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 Acid

Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner contains this as ingredient number 19.

Paula's Choice CLEAR Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution With 2% BHA contains this as ingredient number 1.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

50% are loved or liked
15% have mixed ratings
19% are disliked or very disliked
15% have no rating yet
38% are loved or liked
38% have mixed ratings
25% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner 26 ingredients

3.8 /5
from 14 reviews
RasberryIce's Avatar'
Mar 3, 2024

Texture: watery
Smell: pleasant but a bit strong
Honestly kinda mid.
I feel like it helps mild acne but is a no for sensitive skin and people who's barrier is f up. The combination of three different exfoliating acids in miniscule...

Texture: watery
Smell: pleasant but a bit strong
Honestly kinda mid.
I feel like it helps mild acne but is a no for sensitive skin and people who's barrier is f up. The combination of three different exfoliating acids in miniscule concentrations feels all over the place and can further sensitivity. I think what's actually working in the product is the 2% niacinamide.
Overall it's okay, would recommend to people who're oily, with very mild acne or few comedomes. But anyone with sensitive or/and dry skin stay away, cause it's not for you and has fragrance.
P.s. Do NOT use this with the whole 30 days miracle line, it WILL destroy your skin barrier in those 30 days. I know cause it happened to me.

Great Value
Drying
Irritating
Light
Absorbs Well
Strong Scent
laila.21's Avatar'
Jan 20, 2024

It didn't do much for me as my skin felt the same with or without it, plus I didn't like how it always foamed up when I even tap it in.

It didn't do much for me as my skin felt the same with or without it, plus I didn't like how it always foamed up when I even tap it in.

Light
Light Scent
Doesn't Work
lisamae's Avatar'
May 25, 2023

Period

Period

Paula's Choice CLEAR Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution With 2% BHA 8 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 1 review
52_pm's Avatar'
Dec 5, 2023

expensive, watery non-oily easy application

expensive, watery non-oily easy application

Expensive
Light
Absorbs Well

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice CLEAR Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution With 2% BHA.

See 50 alternatives
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