Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Read our full disclosure policy.

Paula's Choice
SKIN PERFECTING 2% Bha Lotion Exfoliant

Versus

Sesderma
Sesbalance Mattifying Gel Plus

Sesderma SESBALANCE Mattifying Gel Plus 1 0 fl Oz.

Product category and function

SKIN PERFECTING 2% Bha Lotion Exfoliant

Sesbalance Mattifying Gel Plus

Leave-on Chemical Exfoliants	Leave-on Chemical Exfoliants
Formulations with exfoliating ingredients to gently dissolve dead skin cells. Once applied, these...	Formulations with exfoliating ingredients to gently dissolve dead skin cells. Once applied, these...
----	----

Ingredient highlights

SKIN PERFECTING 2% Bha Lotion Exfoliant

Sesbalance Mattifying Gel Plus

Ingredient info	Ingredient info
Alcohol-free Paraben-free SLS-free Mica-free Fragrance-free	Alcohol-free Paraben-free SLS-free Mica-free Fragrance-free

Full ingredient list

SKIN PERFECTING 2% Bha Lotion Exfoliant

Sesbalance Mattifying Gel Plus

No. of common ingredients = 0
Water, butylene glycol, polysorbate 20, cetyl alcohol, salicylic acid, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, cyclopentasiloxane, sorbitan stearate, camellia sinensis leaf extract, lauric acid, allantoin, glycerin, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, avena sativa (oat) kernel extract, epilobium angustifolium extract, dimethicone, xanthan gum, magnesium aluminum silicate, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, sodium hydroxide, hexylene glycol, disodium edta, ethylhexylglycerin, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol 12	Water (aqua), niacinamide, cyclopentasiloxane, propanediol, polyacrylamide, mandelic acid, propylene glycol, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, epigallocatechin gallate, gluconolactone, alcohol, azelaic acid, bha, bht, butylene glycol, c13-14 isoparaffin, camellia sinensis leaf extract, chamomilla recutita extract, dimethicone crosspolymer, ethylhexylglycerin, glycerin, laureth-7, fragrance, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, phenoxyethanol, phosphatidylcholine, poloxamer 235, poloxamer 338, polysorbate 20, potassium sorbate, retinal, retinol, salicylic acid, sodium cholate, sodium hydroxide, tocophersolan, trideceth-9

No. of common ingredients = 0

Total Number of ingredients = 25

Total Number of ingredients = 37

Water, butylene glycol, polysorbate 20, cetyl alcohol, salicylic acid, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, cyclopentasiloxane, sorbitan stearate, camellia sinensis leaf extract, lauric acid, allantoin, glycerin, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, avena sativa (oat) kernel extract, epilobium angustifolium extract, dimethicone, xanthan gum, magnesium aluminum silicate, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, sodium hydroxide, hexylene glycol, disodium edta, ethylhexylglycerin, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol

Water (aqua), niacinamide, cyclopentasiloxane, propanediol, polyacrylamide, mandelic acid, propylene glycol, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, epigallocatechin gallate, gluconolactone, alcohol, azelaic acid, bha, bht, butylene glycol, c13-14 isoparaffin, camellia sinensis leaf extract, chamomilla recutita extract, dimethicone crosspolymer, ethylhexylglycerin, glycerin, laureth-7, fragrance, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, phenoxyethanol, phosphatidylcholine, poloxamer 235, poloxamer 338, polysorbate 20, potassium sorbate, retinal, retinol, salicylic acid, sodium cholate, sodium hydroxide, tocophersolan, trideceth-9

Notable ingredients

SKIN PERFECTING 2% Bha Lotion Exfoliant

Sesbalance Mattifying Gel Plus

Anti-acne: Salicylic acid

Soothing: Allantoin, Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract

Antioxidant: Avena sativa (oat) kernel extract, Camellia sinensis leaf extract

Anti-acne: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid, Retinal, Retinol, Salicylic acid

Soothing: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid

Skin brightening: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid, Retinal, Retinol

Load all

Ingredients with their functions

SKIN PERFECTING 2% Bha Lotion Exfoliant

Sesbalance Mattifying Gel Plus

Water

Also-called: Aqua, Aqua/Water, Water/Aqua/Eau, Aqua/Water/Eau | Function: Skin conditioning, Solvent

Water serves as a fundamental component in skincare products, often listed as the first ingredient, which means it's the most abundant. It acts as a solvent, helping to dissolve other ingredients and facilitate the application and absorption of products.

Butylene glycol

Function: Viscosity controlling, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Polysorbate 20

Function: Surfactant/Cleansing

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Water (aqua)

Also-called: Aqua, Aqua/Water, Water/Aqua/Eau, Aqua/Water/Eau | Function: Skin conditioning, Solvent

Niacinamide

Also-called: Nicotinamide, Vitamin B3 | Function: Anti-acne, Soothing, Skin brightening, Cell-signaling ingredient

Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a potent skincare ingredient renowned for its wide-ranging benefits.

It helps to strengthen the skin's barrier function, improve skin texture, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It's also effective in managing acne and reducing redness and inflammation.

Furthermore, it inhibits melanin production, thereby assisting in fading hyperpigmentation and evening out skin tone. Safe for almost all skin types, niacinamide is a versatile ingredient found in various skincare products.

Cyclopentasiloxane

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Propanediol

Also-called: Zemea | Function: Viscosity controlling, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Polyacrylamide

Function: Film forming

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Mandelic acid

Function: Exfoliant, Anti-microbial

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Propylene glycol

Function: Viscosity controlling, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer

Function: Viscosity controlling

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Epigallocatechin gallate

Function: Antioxidant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Gluconolactone

Function: Skin conditioning, Chelating, Exfoliant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Alcohol

Also-called: Ethanol, ethyl alcohol | Function: Viscosity controlling, Astringent, Solvent, Anti-microbial

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Azelaic acid

Function: Anti-acne, Soothing, Buffering, Skin brightening, Antioxidant

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid found in fungi and certain grains. It offers several benefits for the skin, including reducing inflammation, decreasing redness, killing acne-causing bacteria, fading dark spots, improving skin texture, protecting against free radicals, and reducing sensitivity over time. It can be easily incorporated into skincare routines and works well with other ingredients.

For acne, azelaic acid prevents the thickening of the top layer of dead skin cells, which can clog pores and lead to breakouts. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective for treating inflammatory acne.

Bha

Also-called: Butylated Hydroxy Anisole, Butylhydroxyanisole | Function: Preservative, Antioxidant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Bht

Also-called: Butylated Hydroxy Toluene | Function: Preservative, Antioxidant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Butylene glycol

Function: Viscosity controlling, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

C13-14 isoparaffin

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Camellia sinensis leaf extract

Also-called: Green tea extract, Green tea leaf extract, White tea extract | Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin protecting, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Astringent, Antioxidant, Anti-microbial

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Chamomilla recutita extract

Function: Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Dimethicone crosspolymer

Function: Viscosity controlling, Emulsion stabilizing

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Ethylhexylglycerin

Function: Skin conditioning, Preservative, Deodorant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Glycerin

Also-called: Glycerol | Function: Skin-identical ingredient, Viscosity controlling, Skin protecting, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Laureth-7

Function: Surfactant/Cleansing

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Fragrance

Also-called: Fragrance | Function: Perfuming, Masking

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil

Function: Surfactant/Cleansing

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Phenoxyethanol

Function: Preservative, Anti-microbial

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Phosphatidylcholine

Function: Surfactant/Cleansing, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Poloxamer 235

Function: Surfactant/Cleansing

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Poloxamer 338

Function: Surfactant/Cleansing

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Polysorbate 20

Function: Surfactant/Cleansing

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Potassium sorbate

Function: Preservative

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Retinal

Also-called: Retinaldehyde | Function: Anti-acne, Skin conditioning, Skin brightening, Cell-signaling ingredient, Anti-microbial

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Retinol

Also-called: Vitamin A | Function: Anti-acne, Skin conditioning, Skin brightening, Cell-signaling ingredient

Retinol is a synthetic derivative of Vitamin A and is commonly found in skincare products. It works by increasing cell turnover and promoting the production of collagen, resulting in smoother, refined skin texture and reduced acne breakouts. It also helps fade dark spots and improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, pregnant women should avoid using retinol due to potential risks. Side effects may include irritation, redness, dryness, peeling, and burning, but these can be minimized by adjusting usage frequency and using a moisturizer. If symptoms persist or worsen, it's advisable to consult a healthcare provider.

Salicylic acid

Function: Anti-acne, Skin conditioning, Preservative, Keratolytic, Exfoliant