RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA

Paula's Choice

RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA

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About this product

The Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA is a treatment. Our analysis of its 34 ingredients (21 low-risk) rates it Excellent (92/100). 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
Treatments
Ingredients
34
Low-risk
21
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 5/10
Good for dry skin
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Butylene Glycol Glycerin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Lactic Acid
Caution for dry skin
Punica Granatum Extract Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract Xanthan Gum Glycerin Salicylic Acid Hydrogenated Lecithin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Sodium Hydroxide Polysorbate 20
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 5/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Punica Granatum Extract Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract Salicylic Acid Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Sensitive Skin 4/11
Good for sensitive skin
Sodium Bicarbonate Glycerin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Allantoin
Caution for sensitive skin
Punica Granatum Extract Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Butylene Glycol Glycerin Tartaric Acid Salicylic Acid Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Lactic Acid Phenoxyethanol Benzyl Alcohol Malic Acid

Ingredients list

34 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (5)
All34 Skin Conditioning24 Fragrance11 Masking7 Buffering Agent7 Skin Protecting7 Ph Adjuster6 Solvent5 Humectant5
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
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
4
B
Glycolic Acid
(Exfoliant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive 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
Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
3
4
B
Malic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
1
Tartaric Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
(Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
(Skin Conditioning)
Ceramide NG
(Skin Conditioning)
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
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root
(Skin Conditioning)
1
B
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
1
Punica Granatum Extract
(Astringent, Masking, Tonic)
1
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning)
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
(Anti Seborrheic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Oral Care, Skin Protecting, Uv Absorber)
1
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
(Astringent)
Camellia Oleifera Leaf
(Fragrance)
CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA FLOWER EXTRACT
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
Peucedanum Graveolens Extract
(Tonic)
1
A
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
1
Adenosine
(Skin Conditioning)
2
A
Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant)
Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
1
A
Polyquaternium-10
(Antistatic Agent, Film Forming, Hair Fixing)
1
A
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
3
B
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
A
Sodium Bicarbonate
(Abrasive, Buffering Agent, Deodorant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Phadjuster, Skin Protecting)
3
B
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
3
A
Aminomethyl Propanol
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
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

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

Butylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning, Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Exfoliant
Glycerin
Humectant, Skin Protecting
Lactic Acid
Exfoliant, Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning

Benefits

Good for oily/acne-prone skin

Concerns

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

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Emollient, Masking
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmollientMaskingPerfumingSkin conditioningSolvent
Malic Acid
Fragrance, Ph adjuster
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3–4 CIR B FragrancePh adjusterBuffering agent
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioning
Ceramide NG
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioning
Punica Granatum Extract
Astringent, Masking
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 AstringentMaskingTonic
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent, Hair conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 AstringentHair conditioningSkin conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Anti seborrheic, Antimicrobial
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Anti seborrheicAntimicrobialAntioxidantOral careSkin protectingUv absorber
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
Astringent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Astringent
Camellia Oleifera Leaf
Fragrance
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Fragrance
CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA FLOWER EXTRACT
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragranceSkin conditioning
Peucedanum Graveolens Extract
Tonic
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Tonic
Adenosine
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
+ 8 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
Glycolic Acid
Exfoliant, Ph adjuster
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B ExfoliantPh adjusterBuffering agent Good for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive 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
Lactic Acid
Exfoliant, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B ExfoliantFragranceHumectantPh adjusterSkin-conditioning agent -humectantSkin conditioningBuffering agent Bad for Sensitive Skin
Tartaric Acid
Fragrance, Ph adjuster
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 1 FragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking Bad for Sensitive 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
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B AntimicrobialAntioxidantAstringentEmollientHumectantMaskingOral care agentSkin conditioningSkin protectingTonicUv absorber Good for Oily Skin
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
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
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 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

Officially notified as a cosmetic in Malaysia (NPRA). Government registration record.

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

AHA (acid exfoliant) 5–10% (OTC)

OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.

Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Tartaric 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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