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Paula's Choice
Pore Normalizing Cleanser
A face cleanser built around BHA and Salicylic acid, for hydration and barrier repair.
Brand price
USD 28.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · on the brand's site
From the brand
What the brand says about this product. Our ingredient analysis follows below.
The brand recommends it for
- Dry skin
- Combination skin
- Sensitive skin
- Acne & blemishes
- Dark spots & pigmentation
- Large pores
- Uneven texture
- Oiliness & shine
How to use
STEP 1: CLEANSE - Cleanse & Control Oil When To Apply Use as first step in your am/pm routine. Apply in gentle circular motions & rinse well. How To Apply Wet face and apply a small amount of cleanser to your face and eye area with vigorous, yet gentle, circular motions. Rinse well. To remove heavy makeup, repeat or use with a clean, wet washcloth.
Caution
If you have a salicylate allergy, check with your physician before using any products that contain salicylic acid.
What's inside
Ingredients List
6 trigger at least one check · 12 trigger none
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- Sulfate surfactants (SLS/SLES)
- May Worsen Dryness
- May Worsen Eczema
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Barrier Repair3
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Concerns
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis6
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris1
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Ingredients Explained
Click on any ingredient to learn more about it
Salicylic Acid
Anti-seborrheic, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Keratolytic, Preservative, Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid is a BHA.
Learn more about Salicylic Acid →Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Antistatic, Cleansing, Foaming, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate →Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
Viscosity Controlling
Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer →Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glycerin →PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
Cleansing, Solvent, Cleansing, Emulsifying
PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate →Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing, Foaming, Cleansing, Emulsifying
Sodium Laureth Sulfate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sodium Laureth Sulfate →Arginine
Antistatic, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning
L-Arginine
Learn more about Arginine →Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Butane-1,3-diol (CAS No. 107-88-0/ EC No. 203-529-7) (R)-(-)-butane-1,3-diol” (CAS No. 6290-03-5/ EC No. 228-532-0)
Learn more about Butylene Glycol →PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Cleansing, Emulsifying
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate →
Dupes
- Cetaphil Nourishing Oil to Foam Cleanser67% match
- Neutrogena Evenly Clear Acne Cleanser with Salicylic Acid61% match
- Celeteque DermoScience™ Hydration Facial Wash61% match
- Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser61% match
- PanOxyl Acne Gel Wash60% match