Paula's Choice Resist Immediate Revitalizing Toner

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Water
2. Cyclopentasiloxane
3. Glycerin
4. Polysorbate 20
5. Dimethiconol
6. Linoleic Acid
7. Oleic Acid
8. Linolenic acid
9. Phospholipids
10. Carnosine
11. Epigallocatechin Gallate
12. Genistein
13. Sodium Hyaluronate
14. Sphingolipids
15. Ferulic Acid
16. Laurdimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed soy protein
17. Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
18. Acetyl glucosamine
19. Quercetin
20. Oenothera Biennis Oil
21. Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
22. Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract
23. Lecithin
24. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
25. Hydrolyzed corn starch
26. Hydrogenated lecithin
27. Palmitic Acid
28. Butylene Glycol
29. Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer
30. Xanthan Gum
31. Laureth-23
32. Laureth-4
33. Aminomethyl propanol
34. Disodium EDTA
35. Sodium Benzoate
36. Ethylhexylglycerin
37. Phenoxyethanol
38. Chlorphenesin
39. Benzoic Acid
40. Sorbic Acid

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of fragranceFree of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains siliconesContains PEGContains essential oilsContains animal-derived

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

CyclopentasiloxaneOleic Acid

DENATURANT

Glycerin

SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING

Polysorbate 20

ANTIFOAMING

Dimethiconol

ANTISTATIC

Linoleic AcidLinolenic acid

Other ingredients

PhospholipidsCarnosineEpigallocatechin GallateGenisteinSodium HyaluronateSphingolipidsFerulic AcidLaurdimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed soy proteinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractAcetyl glucosamineQuercetinOenothera Biennis OilBeta Vulgaris Root ExtractCucurbita Pepo Seed ExtractLecithinCaprylic/Capric TriglycerideHydrolyzed corn starchHydrogenated lecithinPalmitic AcidButylene GlycolAcrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymerXanthan GumLaureth-23Laureth-4Aminomethyl propanolDisodium EDTASodium BenzoateEthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanolChlorphenesinBenzoic AcidSorbic Acid

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth

Cyclopentasiloxane

Cyclopentasiloxane for emollient/solvent; volatile silicone, smooth feel, check VOC regulations.

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Polysorbate 20

Non-ionic emulsifier and cleansing surfactant; contains PEG, control microbial load.

Dimethiconol

Dimethiconol; silicone emollient providing silky feel and reducing friction; moderate comedogenicity, avoid excess.

Linoleic Acid

Essential fatty acid for barrier repair and hydration; oxidizes easily, high levels may be comedogenic

Oleic Acid

Oleic acid for emolliency/emulsification; high levels may increase skin penetration

Linolenic acid

Omega-6 fatty acid for barrier repair; prone to oxidation, needs antioxidants and low light exposure

Phospholipids

Biomimetic repair and emollient, mimics skin lipids; typically processed at low temps, may be sticky at high levels

Carnosine

Dipeptide skin conditioner with antioxidant and buffering properties; used in synergy with other actives.

Epigallocatechin Gallate

Potent water-soluble polyphenol antioxidant <1%; may affect color stability

Genistein

Flavonoid antioxidant with skin conditioning effects; check EU restriction III/373.

Sodium Hyaluronate

Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture

Sphingolipids

Biomimetic membrane lipids for repairing skin barrier and stratum corneum; highly effective for barrier impairment

Ferulic Acid

Antioxidant, often combined with vitamin C and E; 0.5-2%, photolabile

Laurdimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed soy protein

Cationic modified protein for hair conditioning; flocculates with anionic surfactants.

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Liquorice root extract for soothing and brightening; batch variability, watch polyphenol interactions

Acetyl glucosamine

Glycosaminoglycan precursor supporting skin hydration and elasticity; highly biocompatible.

Quercetin

Flavonoid antioxidant; low water solubility, use in conjugate form, light sensitive.

Oenothera Biennis Oil

Natural oil rich in GLA; supports barrier, prone to oxidation, needs antioxidants

Beta Vulgaris Root Extract

Plant root extract used as a skin conditioning agent to improve skin texture and barrier function.

Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract

Pumpkin seed extract containing vitamin E and fatty acids for skin conditioning; antioxidant and humectant aid, generally well-tolerated.

Lecithin

Phospholipid emulsifier at 1-5%; biocompatible, moisturizing/antioxidant, prone to oxidation (add TBHQ), mild for sensitive skin.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Light occlusive and solvent at 1–10%; non-greasy feel, suitable for oily and combination skin

Hydrolyzed corn starch

Hygroscopic starch for humidity control/filming; needs preservative, low comedogenicity.

Hydrogenated lecithin

Emulsifier from lecithin; stable, used in powder emulsions

Palmitic Acid

Palmitic acid for emulsification/emollient; solid fat, high melting point, occlusive.

Butylene Glycol

Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel

Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer

Crosspolymer for thickening/film; needs neutralization to pH 7-8 to hydrate, check ion strength.

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

Laureth-23

Not decoded yet

Laureth-4

Not decoded yet

Aminomethyl propanol

pH buffer at 0.1–1%; irritating at high levels, avoid direct mixing with strong acids/bases

Disodium EDTA

Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy

Sodium Benzoate

Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates

Ethylhexylglycerin

Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Chlorphenesin

Phenolic antimicrobial; strict EU limits apply, potential allergen, careful dosing required for leave-on products.

Benzoic Acid

Preservative and pH adjuster at 0.1–0.5%; low water solubility, best in acidic media, irritant at high levels.

Sorbic Acid

Preservative effective at low pH, often combined with sorbate salts; check regulatory limits