EWG Skin Deep® | Paula's Choice Skincare Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA Rating

EWG's Skin Deep®

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Data Availability:

Limited

Paula's Choice Skincare Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA

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Ingredient concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

LOW

Cancer
HIGH

Allergies & Immunotoxicity
MODERATE

Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
HIGH

Use Restrictions

Ingredient scores

Ingredients are scored based on their formulation and concentration in this product. Click on an ingredient for more information.

WATER

Data Availability: Robust

FUNCTION(S)	solvent
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BUTYLENE GLYCOL

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	humectant, masking, skin conditioning, solvent, viscosity controlling, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, viscositydecreasing agent
CONCERNS	• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
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GLYCOLIC ACID

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	buffering, exfoliant, ph adjuster
CONCERNS	• Cancer (low) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Enhanced skin absorption • Use restrictions (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
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GLYCERIN

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	denaturant, humectant, perfuming, solvent, fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, oral care agent;oral health care drug, skin-conditioning agent - humectant, skin protectant, viscosity decreasing agent
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (moderate)
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LACTIC ACID

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	buffering, humectant, skin conditioning, exfoliant, fragrance ingredient, ph adjuster, skin-conditioning agent -humectant, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Cancer (low) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Enhanced skin absorption • Use restrictions (high) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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CAPRYLIC/ CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - occlusive
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MALIC ACID

Data Availability: Good

FUNCTION(S)	buffering, fragrance ingredient, ph adjuster
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (high) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
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TARTARIC ACID

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	buffering, masking, fragrance ingredient, ph adjuster
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PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Neurotoxicity (low) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low) • Contamination concerns (ACETATE and PALMITIC ACID) • Biochemical or cellular level changes (low)
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PALMITOYL TETRAPEPTIDE-7

Data Availability: None

FUNCTION(S)	skin conditioning
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CERAMIDE NG

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
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SALICYLIC ACID

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	antidandruff, hair conditioning, keratolytic, masking, preservative, skin conditioning, antiacne agent, antidandruff agent, corn/callus/wart remover, denaturant, exfoliant;fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Cancer (low) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Use restrictions (high) • Endocrine disruption (moderate) • Multiple, additive exposure sources (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
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GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA (LICORICE) ROOT EXTRACT

Data Availability: Good

FUNCTION(S)	perfuming, antioxidant, skin-conditioning agent - humectant, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Neurotoxicity (low) • Endocrine disruption (moderate) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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CAMELLIA SINENSIS (GREEN TEA) LEAF EXTRACT

Data Availability: Good

FUNCTION(S)	antimicrobial, antioxidant, astringent, emollient, humectant, masking, oral care, skin conditioning, skin protecting, tonic, uv absorber, fragrance ingredient, oral care agent, skin-conditioning agent -miscellaneous, ultraviolet light absorber
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate) • Use restrictions (low)
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AVENA SATIVA (OAT) BRAN EXTRACT

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	not reported
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Use restrictions (low)
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PUNICA GRANATUM (POMEGRANATE) EXTRACT

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	fragrance ingredient, not reported
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LYCIUM BARBARUM (MATRIMONY VINE) FRUIT EXTRACT

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	astringent, hair conditioning, skin conditioning
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VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) SEED EXTRACT

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	anticaries agent, antidandruff agent, antifungal agent, antimicrobial agent, antioxidant;oral care agent, oral health care drug, sunscreen agent, ultraviolet light absorber
CONCERNS	• Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
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SAMBUCUS NIGRA (ELDER) FRUIT EXTRACT

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	astringent, not reported
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CAMELLIA OLEIFERA (TEA-OIL CAMELLIA) LEAF EXTRACT

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	astringent, skin conditioning, cosmetic astringent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
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CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER EXTRACT

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	perfuming, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, skin-conditioning agent -occlusive
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Use restrictions (low) • Neurotoxicity (low)
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PEUCEDANUM GRAVEOLENS (DILL) EXTRACT

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	tonic, not reported
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ALLANTOIN

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin conditioning, skin protecting, soothing, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, skin protectant
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ADENOSINE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
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HYDROGENATED LECITHIN

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	emulsifying, skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, surfactant - emulsifying agent, suspending agent- nonsurfactant
CONCERNS	• Enhanced skin absorption • Use restrictions (low) • Contamination concerns (NITROSAMINES)
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BISABOLOL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	masking, skin conditioning, soothing, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate) • Enhanced skin absorption
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POLYQUATERNIUM-10

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	antistatic, film forming, antistatic agent, film former, hair fixative
CONCERNS	• Neurotoxicity (low) • Endocrine disruption (low) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
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XANTHAN GUM

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	binding, emulsifying, emulsion stabilising, gel forming, skin conditioning, surfactant, viscosity controlling, binder, emulsion stabilizer, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, surfactant -emulsifying agent, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous
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CARBOMER

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	emulsion stabilising, gel forming, viscosity controlling, emulsion stabilizer, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous
CONCERNS	• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low) • Contamination concerns (METHACRYLIC ACID, ACRYLIC ACID, and BENZENE)
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SODIUM BICARBONATE

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	abrasive, buffering, deodorant, oral care, skin protecting, buffering agent, deodorant agent, oral care agent, oral health care drug;phadjuster, skin protectant
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SODIUM HYDROXIDE

Data Availability: Good

FUNCTION(S)	buffering, denaturant, ph adjuster
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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AMINOMETHYL PROPANOL

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	buffering, ph adjuster
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (high) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high) • Contamination concerns (NITROSAMINES and OXAZOLIDINE)
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PHENOXYETHANOL

Data Availability: Good

FUNCTION(S)	preservative, fragrance ingredient
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Use restrictions (moderate) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Ecotoxicology (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high) • Occupational hazards (high)
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BENZYL ALCOHOL

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	masking, preservative, solvent, external analgesic, fragrance ingredient, oral health care drug, solvent;viscosity decreasing agent
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Ecotoxicology (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low) • Occupational hazards (high)
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Ingredients from packaging:

Water (Aqua), Butylene Glycol (hydration), Glycolic Acid (alpha hydroxy acid/exfoliant), Glycerin (hydration/skin replenishing), Lactic Acid (alpha hydroxy acid/exfoliant), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (texture enhancer), Malic Acid (alpha hydroxy acid/exfoliant), Tartaric Acid (alpha hydroxy acid/exfoliant), Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (skin-restoring), Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (skin-restoring), Ceramide NG (skin-replenishing), Salicylic Acid (beta hydroxy acid/exfoliant), Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract (skin-soothing), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract (antioxidant), Avena Sativa (Oat) Bran Extract (skin-soothing), Punica Granatum Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract (antioxidant), Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract (antioxidant), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (antioxidant/skin-soothing), Peucedanum Graveolens (Dill) Extract (antioxidant), Allantoin (skin-soothing), Adenosine (skin-restoring), Hydrogenated Lecithin (skin-restoring), Bisabolol (skin-soothing), Polyquaternium-10 (texture enhancer), Xanthan Gum (thickener/emulsifier), Carbomer (texture enhancer), Polysorbate 20 (cleansing agent), Sodium Bicarbonate (pH adjuster), Sodium Hydroxide (pH adjuster), Aminomethyl Propanol (pH adjuster), Phenoxyethanol (preservative), Benzyl Alcohol (preservative).

Product's animal testing policies

Some cosmetics companies have taken People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Leaping Bunny animal-testing pledges. For consumers who are concerned about companies’ policies on animal testing, Skin Deep reports this information.

Leaping Bunny

Products bearing the Leaping Bunny mark are certified cruelty-free under the Humane Household Products Standard, managed in the U.S. and Canada by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, a coalition of eight national animal protection groups. Participating companies must open their processes to independent audits throughout the supply chain.

LEARN MORE ON LEAPINGBUNNY.ORG

PETA Cruelty-free Companies

Companies that join the "Caring Consumer" program of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a leading international animal rights advocacy organization, attest that "neither they nor their ingredient suppliers conduct or commission any animal tests on ingredients, formulations or finished products, and that they pledge not to do so in the future."

LEARN MORE ON PETA.ORG

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified^® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST

Low Availability

Moderate Availability

High Availability