Resist Advanced Pore-Refining Treatment 4% BHA

Paula's Choice

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The Paula's Choice Resist Advanced Pore-Refining Treatment 4% BHA is a exfoliating scrubs & peeling gel. Our analysis of its 25 ingredients (21 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Exfoliating Scrubs & Peeling Gel
Ingredients
25
Low-risk
21
Fragrance
Fragrance-free

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 6/8
Good for dry skin
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract Butylene Glycol Glycerin Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract Dimethicone
Caution for dry skin
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract Xanthan Gum Glycerin Salicylic Acid Hydrogenated Lecithin Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 5/1
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract Salicylic Acid Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract
Caution for oily/acne-prone skin
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
Sensitive Skin 6/8
Good for sensitive skin
Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract Glycerin Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract Dimethicone Allantoin
Caution for sensitive skin
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract Butylene Glycol Glycerin Salicylic Acid Citric Acid Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract Phenoxyethanol Benzyl Alcohol

Ingredients list

25 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (5)
All25 Skin Conditioning20 Fragrance8 Skin Protecting6 Masking5 Humectant5 Solvent4 Astringent4 Viscosity Controlling4
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
A
Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract
(Anticaries Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Antifungal Agent, Antimicrobial Agent, Antioxidant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
B
Avena Sativa (Oat) Bran Extract
1
A
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
1
Peucedanum Graveolens (Dill) Extract
(Tonic)
1
Adenosine
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
(Astringent)
1
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
1
B
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Occlusive, Perfuming)
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
(Astringent, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
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
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
1
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling)
2
A
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
2
A
Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant)
2
Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous, Uv Absorber, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic)
3
A
Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning)
Silicone
Silicone
3
A
Aminomethyl Propanol
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
1
A
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
5
A
Benzyl Alcohol
(External Analgesic, Fragrance, Oral Health Care Drug, Preservative, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Masking)
Allergens
Allergens
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning)

My Ingredient Notes

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

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Key ingredients

Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract
Antioxidant, Uv Absorber
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Skin Conditioning, Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
Astringent
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent, Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning

Benefits

Good for oily/acne-prone skin

Concerns

Contains paraben
Contains silicone
Contains eu allergen
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
May not suit dry skin
May not suit sensitive skin

Ingredients explained

Avena Sativa (Oat) Bran Extract
Other
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B
Disodium EDTA
Chelating agent, Viscosity controlling
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Chelating agentViscosity controlling
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Flavoring agent, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Flavoring agentSkin conditioningHumectant
Peucedanum Graveolens (Dill) Extract
Tonic
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Tonic
Adenosine
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
Astringent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Astringent
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 AstringentHair conditioningSkin conditioning
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
Astringent, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 AstringentSkin conditioning
Xanthan Gum
Binding agent, Emulsion stabilising
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Binding agentEmulsion stabilisingSkin conditioningSurfactant -emulsifying agentViscosity increasing agentBindingGel formingViscosity controlling
Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion stabilising, Viscosity controlling
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Emulsion stabilisingViscosity controlling
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Skin conditioning, Emulsifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Skin conditioningEmulsifyingSurfactantSuspending agent- nonsurfactant
Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract
Antioxidant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 AntioxidantFragranceOral care agentSkin-conditioning agent -miscellaneousUv absorberAntimicrobialAstringentEmollientHumectantMaskingSkin conditioningSkin protectingTonic
Aminomethyl Propanol
Ph adjuster, Buffering agent
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A Ph adjusterBuffering agent
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioning
Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract
Anticaries agent, Antidandruff agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Anticaries agentAntidandruff agentAntifungal agentAntimicrobial agentAntioxidantOral care agentOral health care drugSunscreen agentUv absorber Good for Dry Skin
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B FragranceSkin conditioningSkin-conditioning agent -occlusivePerfuming Good for Sensitive SkinGood for Dry Skin
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
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
Citric Acid
Chelating agent, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Chelating agentFragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin
Dimethicone
Antifoaming agent, Skin protecting
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A Antifoaming agentSkin protectingEmollientSkin conditioning Silicone
Allantoin
Skin conditioning, Skin protecting
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningSkin protectingSoothing Good for Oily SkinGood for Sensitive Skin
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Benzyl Alcohol
External analgesic, Fragrance
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 5 CIR A External analgesicFragranceOral health care drugPreservativeSolventViscosity decreasing agentMasking Allergens

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Morning only: Apply as the last step of your AM routine, after moisturiser, and reapply every ~2 hours of sun exposure.
  • 2 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.

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.

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