Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant vs The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
3 shared ingredients · Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant 5 ingredients · The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution 9 ingredients
Where the two ingredient lists differ
Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant · 5
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution · 9
In both (3)
What has been studied about those differences
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
- GLYCERIN Skin effectCombined effects of glycerol and petrolatum in an emollient cream: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study in healthy volunteers with dry skin
In a randomized, double-blind, four-arm crossover study of 51 healthy volunteers with dry skin, an emollient containing glycerol and petrolatum raised corneometry-measured skin moisture significantly above its vehicle (P < 0.0001) over 12 hours. The authors attributed the hydration gain to the glycerol component and the lower water loss to the petrolatum component.
Human trial · 2020 · 51 people · healthy volunteers with dry skin (Kligman score 2 or 3) · Corneometry (skin moisture) and transepidermal water loss over 12 hours after one application. · Measured on the forearms. The significant hydration result comes from the full emollient containing both glycerol and petrolatum.
- GLYCERIN Skin effectGlycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
Topical glycerol improves stratum corneum hydration, barrier function and skin mechanical properties. The review also reports reduced irritation response and faster wound healing, and traces the effect to aquaporin-3 transport and to glycerol's own presence in the skin.
Review article · 2008 · Humans in the cited studies, plus animal and in-vitro work on mechanism · Leave-on products. The review discusses both healthy skin and skin with dry or barrier-impaired conditions such as atopic dermatitis. · A narrative review. It compiles mechanisms and results from other studies.
- GLYCERIN Skin effectPubChem
Glycerin is classified as a humectant in cosmetic ingredient databases: its role in a formula is to hold water.
Official ingredient listing · Cosmetic formulas generally. · Ingredient database · GLYCERIN · Skin effect of to the stratum corneum comes from a separate review of the literature. · Ingredient database · GLYCERIN
The situations those studies looked at
What to watch for
Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
- SALICYLIC ACID IrritationTopical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha-hydroxy acid) for acne
Trials of topical salicylic acid for acne reported application-site reactions such as scaling and redness.
Review article · 2020 · People with mild to moderate acne in the included trials · Topical salicylic acid in acne trials, mainly leave-on use over eight weeks or longer. · The review graded the salicylic acid adverse-event comparisons as very low certainty.
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
- SALICYLIC ACID IrritationTopical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha-hydroxy acid) for acne
Trials of topical salicylic acid for acne reported application-site reactions such as scaling and redness.
Review article · 2020 · People with mild to moderate acne in the included trials · Topical salicylic acid in acne trials, mainly leave-on use over eight weeks or longer. · The review graded the salicylic acid adverse-event comparisons as very low certainty.
Both ingredient lists and where they came from
Ingredient list from: Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant — brand product page · last checked 2026-10-30
Ingredient list from: Salicylic Acid 2% Solution — brand product page · last checked 2026-10-30