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The Ordinary
Lactic Acid 5% + HA

Versus

Paula's Choice
6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant

Product category and function

Lactic Acid 5% + HA

6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant

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...
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Ingredient highlights

Lactic Acid 5% + HA

6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant

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

Full ingredient list

Lactic Acid 5% + HA

6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant

No. of common ingredients = 0
Aqua (water), lactic acid, glycerin, pentylene glycol, propanediol, sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, tasmannia lanceolata fruit/leaf extract, acacia senegal gum, xanthan gum, isoceteth-20, trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, sodium hydroxide, ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-hexanediol, caprylyl glycol 7	Water, 2,3-butanediol, mandelic acid, lactic acid, sodium hydroxide, myrica cerifera (bayberry) fruit extract, akebia quinata (chocolate vine) stem extract, prunus lannesiana (cherry blossom) flower extract, lactobacillus ferment lysate, saccharomyces lysate, achillea millefolium extract, saccharide isomerate, arginine, hydroxyacetophenone, butylene glycol, sodium phytate, pentylene glycol, xanthan gum, citric acid, sodium citrate, 1,2-hexanediol, caprylyl glycol, sodium benzoate

No. of common ingredients = 0

Total Number of ingredients = 15

Total Number of ingredients = 23

Aqua (water), lactic acid, glycerin, pentylene glycol, propanediol, sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, tasmannia lanceolata fruit/leaf extract, acacia senegal gum, xanthan gum, isoceteth-20, trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, sodium hydroxide, ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-hexanediol, caprylyl glycol

Water, 2,3-butanediol, mandelic acid, lactic acid, sodium hydroxide, myrica cerifera (bayberry) fruit extract, akebia quinata (chocolate vine) stem extract, prunus lannesiana (cherry blossom) flower extract, lactobacillus ferment lysate, saccharomyces lysate, achillea millefolium extract, saccharide isomerate, arginine, hydroxyacetophenone, butylene glycol, sodium phytate, pentylene glycol, xanthan gum, citric acid, sodium citrate, 1,2-hexanediol, caprylyl glycol, sodium benzoate

Notable ingredients

Lactic Acid 5% + HA

6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant

Antioxidant: Tasmannia lanceolata fruit/leaf extract

Exfoliant: Lactic acid

Solvent: Aqua (water), 1,2-hexanediol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pentylene glycol

Soothing: Achillea millefolium extract

Antioxidant: Hydroxyacetophenone

Exfoliant: Lactic acid, Mandelic acid

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Ingredients with their functions

Lactic Acid 5% + HA

6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant

Aqua (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.

Lactic acid

Function: Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Buffering, Exfoliant

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