Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier

Paula's Choice

Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier

0.0
from 0 Ratings
Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier is a treatment. Our analysis of its 38 ingredients (31 low-risk) rates it Excellent (98/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Treatments
Ingredients
38
Low-risk
31
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United States

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 9/9
Good for dry skin
Sucrose Stearate Ethoxydiglycol Panax Ginseng Root Extract Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Caprylyl Glycol Butylene Glycol Sodium Hyaluronate Glycerin Lecithin
Caution for dry skin
Centella Asiatica Extract Sucrose Stearate Glycerin Salicylic Acid Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate Hydrogenated Lecithin Sodium Hydroxide Polysorbate 20 Lecithin
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 1/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid
Sensitive Skin 6/7
Good for sensitive skin
Centella Asiatica Extract Ascorbyl Glucoside Ubiquinone Panax Ginseng Root Extract Glycerin Epigallocatechin Gallate
Caution for sensitive skin
Ethoxydiglycol Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Butylene Glycol Glycerin Salicylic Acid Phenoxyethanol

Ingredients list

38 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (4)
All38 Skin Conditioning34 Hair Conditioning8 Solvent6 Antioxidant6 Humectant6 Perfuming6 Surfactant5 Emulsifying5
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
A
Ethoxydiglycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Humectant, Perfuming)
2
A
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Ascorbyl Glucoside
(Antioxidant)
1
A
Panthenol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
4
B
Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Camellia Sinensis Callus
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Skin Protecting)
glycyrrhiza glabra root extract
(Bleaching, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Smoothing, Soothing)
1
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Coffea Arabica Fruit Extract
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning Miscellaneous)
1
Ceramide NP
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
(Anti Seborrheic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Oral Care, Skin Protecting, Uv Absorber)
1
A
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic)
1
A
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing)
1
Phytic Acid
(Chelating Agent, Oral Care Agent)
2
Epigallocatechin Gallate
(Antioxidant)
1
Adenosine
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Ubiquinone
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
(Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning)
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
2
3
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient)
1
B
Centella Asiatica Extract
(Cleansing, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing, Soothing, Tonic)
1
Sucrose Stearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
2
A
Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant)
1
A
Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
(Chelating Agent)
1
A
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
1
A
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant)
3
B
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
B
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
1
A
Hydroxyethylcellulose
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling)
3
B
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
1
A
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

Browse similar treatment
No close formula match yet — browse other products like this

Key ingredients

Butylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning, Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant, Skin Protecting
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Exfoliant, Skin Conditioning

Benefits

Good for oily/acne-prone skin

Concerns

Contains paraben
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
May not suit sensitive skin

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Propanediol
Solvent, Viscosity decreasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 SolventViscosity decreasing agentViscosity controlling
Ethoxydiglycol
Fragrance, Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSolventViscosity decreasing agentHumectantPerfuming
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Callus
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AntimicrobialAntioxidantHair conditioningSkin conditioningSkin conditioning emollientSkin protecting
glycyrrhiza glabra root extract
Bleaching, Perfuming
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A BleachingPerfumingSkin conditioningSkin conditioning emollientSmoothingSoothing
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Coffea Arabica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant, Skin conditioning - miscellaneous
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 AntioxidantSkin conditioning - miscellaneous
Ceramide NP
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Hair conditioningSkin conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Anti seborrheic, Antimicrobial
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Anti seborrheicAntimicrobialAntioxidantOral careSkin protectingUv absorber
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmollientHair conditioningSkin protectingTonic
Niacinamide
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningSmoothing
Phytic Acid
Chelating agent, Oral care agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Chelating agentOral care agent
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
+ 16 more — see the full ingredients list above
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Panthenol
Antistatic agent, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Antistatic agentHair conditioningSkin conditioning Good for Dry Skin
Salicylic Acid
Antiacne agent, Antidandruff agent
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B Antiacne agentAntidandruff agentCorn/callus/wart removerDenaturantExfoliantFragranceHair conditioningSkin conditioningKeratolyticMaskingPreservative Good for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin conditioning, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningHumectant Good for Dry Skin
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Apply after toner and before moisturiser — thinnest to thickest.
  • 2 Morning only: Apply as the last step of your AM routine, after moisturiser, and reapply every ~2 hours of sun exposure.
  • 3 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Use with caution
BHA (salicylic) (Salicylic Acid)

Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.

This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

Vitamin C (ascorbic) 5–20%

L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Niacinamide 2–5% (up to 10%)

Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.

Niacinamide

BHA (salicylic) 0.5–2%

Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.

Salicylic Acid

INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.

From the community

0
Reviews
0
Saved by users
0
In collections

Ratings & reviews

Write a Review
0.0
from 0 ratings

Used this product? Rate it in 10 seconds

Alternatives