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 are exfoliants. They share a 64% active-ingredient overlap, so the real decision is about price, texture and the supporting ingredients. Here's the side-by-side.

64%Active overlap
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?

On price, the The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution sits in the Budget tier versus Premium for the Paula's Choice — so it's the more budget-led pick if the overlap is what you're after.

The overlap

What they share

At 64% active overlap, these are the ingredients doing comparable work in both formulas:

Glycolic Acid
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

Paula's Choice — 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 — 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 ChoiceThe Ordinary
CategoryExfoliantExfoliant
Price tierPremiumBudget
Best forRough Texture, Dullness, CongestionDullness, Rough Texture, Congestion
Usage notesEvening onlyEvening only
Active overlap64% — Glycolic Acid
Questions

Common questions

Is the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel or the The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution better?
Neither is universally better — they share 64% active-ingredient overlap, so for the actives that drive results they're close. The The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution is the more budget-friendly option, while the other may differ on texture, finish and supporting ingredients. Pick based on your skin's priorities rather than a single 'winner'.
What's the difference between the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel and the The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution?
Both are exfoliants that share Glycolic Acid. Where they differ: they sit in different price tiers (Premium vs 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?
They share 64% active-ingredient overlap based on published INCI lists, so one can stand in for the other on the actives that matter — chiefly Glycolic Acid. A dupe matches the hero actives, not the full sensory experience, so expect differences in texture, fragrance and exact concentrations.
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 rather than layer both. If you want to use both, treat one as your daytime option and the other for evening, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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66% overlap

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