Side-by-side comparison

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel vs The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution

Both exfoliants contain Glycolic Acid, but each adds something the other doesn't. Here's where they overlap and where they split.

1Shared hero active
Paula's Choice
Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel
ExfoliantPremiumEvening only
Rough TextureDullnessCongestion

A high-strength weekly at-home peel combining 25% AHA and 2% BHA with soothing extracts. Strong resurfacing for experienced acid users; a once-weekly treatment only, with strict SPF the next day.

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The Ordinary
Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution
ExfoliantBudgetEvening only
DullnessRough TextureCongestion

A 7% glycolic acid toner with aloe, ginseng and Tasmanian pepperberry to temper sting. A cult budget AHA for glow and texture; potent enough that it's a once-every-few-days step, not a daily toner, and demands daytime SPF.

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The verdict

Which should you choose?

Both contain Glycolic Acid. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel adds Salicylic Acid. Pick the one whose extra matches what you're treating. On price, The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution is the less expensive option (Budget versus Premium).

The overlap

What they share

This hero active appears in both formulas:

Glycolic Acid
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Glycolic Acid~5–25%
  • Lactic Acid~3–10%
  • Tartaric Acid~2–6%
  • Salicylic Acid~1.5–4%

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Glycolic Acid~5–25%
  • Rosa Damascena …~3–10%
  • Centaurea Cyanu…~2–6%
  • Aloe Barbadensi…~1.5–4%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant PeelThe Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution
CategoryExfoliantExfoliant
Price tierPremiumBudget
Best forRough Texture, Dullness, CongestionDullness, Rough Texture, Congestion
Usage notesEvening onlyEvening only
Shared hero activesGlycolic Acid
Questions

Common questions

Is the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel or The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution better?
It depends on what you're treating. Both contain Glycolic Acid; Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel adds Salicylic Acid.
What's the difference between the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel and The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution?
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel's hero actives are Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid and Green Tea. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution's are Glycolic Acid, Aloe Vera and Ginseng. They also sit in different price tiers (Premium versus Budget).
Are the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel and The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution dupes for each other?
Partly. They share Glycolic Acid, but Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel's Salicylic Acid isn't in the other, so they aren't full substitutes.
Can I use the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel and The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution together?
They both fill the exfoliant slot in a routine, so you'd normally pick one. If you like both, use one in the morning and the other at night, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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1 shared hero active

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