Paula's Choice Repairing Soothing 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. Butylene Glycol
4. Glycereth-26
5. Dimethiconol
6. Oenothera Biennis Oil
7. Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
8. Sodium Hyaluronate
9. Tocopheryl Acetate
10. Ascorbyl Palmitate
11. Panthenol
12. Allantoin
13. Glycerin
14. Hydrogenated lecithin
15. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
16. Niacinamide
17. Superoxide dismutase
18. PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
19. Linoleamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate
20. Laureth-4
21. Laureth-23
22. Disodium EDTA
23. Sodium Benzoate
24. Phenoxyethanol
25. Chlorphenesin
26. Benzoic Acid
27. Sorbic Acid

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of formaldehyde releasersContains siliconesContains PEGContains essential oilsContains mineral oilContains fragranceContains animal-derived

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

CyclopentasiloxaneOenothera Biennis OilBorago Officinalis Seed Oil

HUMECTANT

Butylene GlycolGlycereth-26Sodium Hyaluronate

ANTIFOAMING

Dimethiconol

Other ingredients

Tocopheryl AcetateAscorbyl PalmitatePanthenolAllantoinGlycerinHydrogenated lecithinCaprylic/Capric TriglycerideNiacinamideSuperoxide dismutasePEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilLinoleamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphateLaureth-4Laureth-23Disodium EDTASodium BenzoatePhenoxyethanolChlorphenesinBenzoic 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.

Butylene Glycol

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

Glycereth-26

Glycereth-26, humectant/viscosity modifier at 1–5%; non-ionic water-soluble, boosts stability and feel.

Dimethiconol

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

Oenothera Biennis Oil

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

Borago Officinalis Seed Oil

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) rich oil; excellent for repair but prone to oxidation, requires antioxidants

Sodium Hyaluronate

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

Tocopheryl Acetate

Vitamin E derivative antioxidant at 0.1–1%; more stable than tocopherol, store protected from light

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Ascorbyl palmitate, lipophilic Vit C ester, antioxidant; oxidizes, needs light/air protection.

Panthenol

Panthenol (vitamin B5) at 1–5%; moisturizing and reparative, supports barrier recovery

Allantoin

Skin soother at 0.5-2%; promotes cell regeneration

Glycerin

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

Hydrogenated lecithin

Emulsifier from lecithin; stable, used in powder emulsions

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

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

Niacinamide

Niacinamide at 2–5%; improves texture, controls oil, brightens; high levels may cause sensitivity

Superoxide dismutase

Enzymatic antioxidant breaking down superoxide radicals; used as bioactive at low levels, requires strict temperature control to prevent inactivation.

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Solubilizer and emulsifier for oil-soluble ingredients; high concentrations may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive skin.

Linoleamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate

Linoleic-based cationic conditioner, strong antistatic for dry hair, incompatible with anionic surfactants

Laureth-4

Not decoded yet

Laureth-23

Not decoded yet

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

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