paulas-choice Paula's Choice Triple Algae Pollution Shield

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. Glycerin
3. Butylene Glycol
4. Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
5. Decyl Oleate
6. Cucumis Sativus Extract
7. Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
8. Propanediol
9. Glutathione
10. Chondrus Crispus Extract
11. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
12. Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
13. Ubiquinone
14. Curcumin
15. Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
16. Epigallocatechin Gallate
17. Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
18. Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
19. Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
20. Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
21. Leontopodium Alpinum Flower Extract
22. Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
23. Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
24. Linoleic Acid
25. Linolenic Acid
26. Phytosphingosine Phosphate
27. Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
28. Tocopherol
29. Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
30. Tocopheryl Acetate
31. Lecithin
32. Xanthan Gum
33. Acacia Senegal Gum
34. Ectoin
35. Glyceryl Stearate
36. Polyacrylamide
37. Cetearyl Alcohol
38. Caprylyl Glycol
39. C13-14 Isoparaffin
40. C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
41. Polysorbate 80
42. 1,2-Hexanediol
43. Laureth-7
44. Dipropylene Glycol
45. Phenoxyethanol
46. Ethylhexylglycerin

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of formaldehyde releasersContains essential oilsContains fragranceContains mineral oilContains parabensContains PEG

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

DENATURANT

Glycerin

HUMECTANT

Butylene Glycol

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Coco-Caprylate/CaprateDecyl Oleate

SKIN CONDITIONING

Cucumis Sativus ExtractArctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract

SOLVENT

Propanediol

Other ingredients

GlutathioneChondrus Crispus ExtractTetrahexyldecyl AscorbateVitis Vinifera Seed ExtractUbiquinoneCurcuminSilybum Marianum Fruit ExtractEpigallocatechin GallateUndaria Pinnatifida ExtractMoringa Oleifera Seed OilFucus Vesiculosus ExtractFicus Carica Fruit ExtractLeontopodium Alpinum Flower ExtractEmblica Officinalis Fruit ExtractButyrospermum Parkii ButterLinoleic AcidLinolenic AcidPhytosphingosine PhosphateThermus Thermophillus FermentTocopherolSesamum Indicum Seed OilTocopheryl AcetateLecithinXanthan GumAcacia Senegal GumEctoinGlyceryl StearatePolyacrylamideCetearyl AlcoholCaprylyl GlycolC13-14 IsoparaffinC12-15 Alkyl BenzoatePolysorbate 801,2-HexanediolLaureth-7Dipropylene GlycolPhenoxyethanolEthylhexylglycerin

Skim through

Comedogenic ratings need a published source. This batch is not yet sourced, so it is not shown.

Ingredients explained

Water

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

Glycerin

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

Butylene Glycol

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

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Lightweight mid-chain ester, quick spreading, suitable for oily skin, non-comedogenic.

Decyl Oleate

Decyl oleate, light ester emollient and solubilizer; refreshing feel, low comedogenicity, suitable for most skin types.

Cucumis Sativus Extract

Cucumber extract, soothing and moisturizing; suitable for sensitive skin

Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract

Bearberry leaf extract; astringent/soothing, for sensitive skin, strict concentration control.

Propanediol

Polyol solvent at 1–5%; light feel, aids solubilization, propylene glycol alternative

Glutathione

Antioxidant and brightening agent; unstable, requires antioxidants and protection from light.

Chondrus Crispus Extract

Carrageenan for thickening and moisturizing; seaweed-based, pH-sensitive

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Lipophilic Vitamin C derivative, antioxidant and brightening; more stable than VC, oil-soluble, must pair with oil phase

Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract

Grape seed extract with OPCs; potent antioxidant; used for skin protection and UV support; needs stabilizers.

Ubiquinone

Coenzyme Q10 analog used as an antioxidant; prone to discoloration, needs protection from light and air.

Curcumin

Potent antioxidant & strong yellow colorant; unstable/oxidizes, low usage (<0.1%), keep from light

Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract

Silybum marianum fruit extract (milk thistle). Antioxidant. Contains alkaloids/terpenes; rare cross-allergenicity with grass/pollen families.

Epigallocatechin Gallate

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

Undaria Pinnatifida Extract

Kelp extract; algal polysaccharides. Hydrating and film-forming, verify compatibility in high-salt formulas.

Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

Light emollient oil rich in oleic acid; moderate comedogenic risk.

Fucus Vesiculosus Extract

Brown alga extract providing moisture, soothing, and smoothing; gentle with no known sensitization or comedogenic risk.

Ficus Carica Fruit Extract

Fig fruit extract, humectant with polysaccharides and enzymes for skin moisturizing

Leontopodium Alpinum Flower Extract

Not decoded yet

Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract

Amla fruit extract rich in vitamin C for skin conditioning; stability required in formulation.

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Shea butter for occlusive moisturizing; high melt point, rich texture, caution for oily skin.

Linoleic Acid

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

Linolenic Acid

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

Phytosphingosine Phosphate

Not decoded yet

Thermus Thermophillus Ferment

Probiotic ferment with humectant properties; use as a low-level skin conditioning agent

Tocopherol

Natural antioxidant (vitamin E) at 0.1–1%; prone to oxidation, store protected from light

Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil

Sesame seed oil for skin and hair conditioning, natural fragrance; prone to oxidation, keep dark

Tocopheryl Acetate

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

Lecithin

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

Xanthan Gum

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

Acacia Senegal Gum

Natural film-former and fragrance agent; used for viscosity or film, check purity for allergens

Ectoin

Cosmectin and skin protector, enhances skin tolerance; water-soluble, 0.1–5% common, compatible with most systems

Glyceryl Stearate

Emulsifier at 1-3%; may require acid to prevent saponification

Polyacrylamide

Film former and thickener for slip and feel; acrylamide monomer residue risk, strict QC required, restriction III/66

Cetearyl Alcohol

Fatty alcohol emulsifier at 1-5%; non-ionic surfactant

Caprylyl Glycol

Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol

C13-14 Isoparaffin

Light hydrocarbon solvent providing emolliency and solubility; non-allergenic, note occlusive nature

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

C12-15 alkyl benzoate; emollient, emulsifier, and antistatic; aids stability and smoothness, moderate low comedogenicity.

Polysorbate 80

Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer; watch for interaction with parabens

1,2-Hexanediol

Polyol solvent and preservative booster at 1–5%; light feel, can replace some traditional preservatives

Laureth-7

Mild non-ionic surfactant for emulsification and solubilization; biodegradable

Dipropylene Glycol

Solvent for essential oils; better humectancy than PEG

Phenoxyethanol

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

Ethylhexylglycerin

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

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