Is Paula's Choice clean? Ingredient check of 84 products
Updated · Based on 4158 screened products
Short answer: 74 of the 84 Paula's Choice products we checked are clean: their listed ingredients contain none of our 10 watchlist groups. 10 are flagged: titanium dioxide (9), parabens (1).
Clean Paula's Choice products (buttons are affiliate links, disclosure)
- Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer View on Amazon
- Paula's Choice Moisture Renewal Oil Booster Buy at Amazon (brand store)
- Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Cleansing Balm Buy at Amazon (brand store)
Order: core everyday product types first (moisturizers and face creams, serums, cleansers, sunscreens, foundations, concealers, then hair care, other makeup, toners, masks, body, lip and hand care); accessories, removers, styling sprays and brow, lash, eye, body, spot-treatment, setting and shaving products come after them. Within that, our data score (methodology), with products from different categories shown where possible. This is not a rating.
We checked 84 of Paula's Choice's products, the current full-size range on paulaschoice.com (US) on 18 October 2026, taken from the ingredient list on each product page. This is a factual check of ingredient lists against our definition of clean. It is not a verdict on the brand and says nothing about how well any product works.
Comparing active-ingredient brands? See is The Ordinary clean, is Drunk Elephant clean and our best clean moisturizers for oily skin.
What "clean" means here
On CleanGlow, a product is clean if its listed ingredients contain none of our 10 watchlist groups, based on the IARC Monographs – List of Classifications and on bans and restrictions under the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009. A product is flagged if at least one listed ingredient matches a watchlist group. The rules are the same for every brand (see the methodology). We do not judge fragrance, essential oils, performance or any marketing claim the brand makes.
Why Paula's Choice products get flagged
Titanium dioxide (9 Paula's Choice products)
IARC classifies titanium dioxide as Group 2B ("possibly carcinogenic to humans"), based on evidence from inhaling the powder. We flag every product that lists it, including where it is only a pigment, an opacifier or a "may contain" shade pigment, and including mineral sunscreens that use it as a UV filter. A flag means the ingredient is on the list. It is not a measured risk for that product. Source: IARC Monographs Vol. 93. See Titanium dioxide for every product we flag for it.
Parabens (1 Paula's Choice product)
The EU bans isopropyl-, isobutyl-, phenyl-, benzyl- and pentylparaben in cosmetics and caps propyl- and butylparaben. We flag every listed paraben, including methyl- and ethylparaben, which the EU still allows within limits. Source: EU Cosmetics Reg. 1223/2009 Annex II & V; Reg. (EU) 358/2014. See Parabens for every product we flag for it.
Every Paula's Choice product we checked
Ingredient lists come from paulaschoice.com (US) (fetched 18 October 2026) unless the source column says otherwise. Formulas change and can differ by country, so always check the pack.
paulaschoice.com shows each product's ingredients as a list of linked ingredient names, in label order; that is the list we check. Some names are shortened there (for example "Camellia Oleifera" for green tea leaf extract). US sunscreens are listed with their UV filters in that order, as shown on the product page. Paula's Choice is not in Ulta's brand list, so there is no Ulta button for it. Comparing with The Ordinary? See Paula's Choice vs The Ordinary, compared on our ingredient data.
Not included
- Kits, duos, trios and bundles, which combine products already listed.
- Trial and travel sizes and other sizes of listed products (each product is listed once).
- Dietary supplements, reusable cotton rounds and the CLEAR Quick Rescue Blemish Hydrocolloid Patches.
Clean alternatives by product type
For each product category where a Paula's Choice product is flagged, these are clean products from other brands in the same category of our database, ordered by our data score (methodology). We match on product category only. They are not presented as equivalents: we have not tested them and make no claim that they look, feel or work like the Paula's Choice product.
Affiliate disclosure: buy buttons and "View on Amazon" cards on this page may be affiliate links (rel="sponsored"). If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commissions never affect which products pass our ingredient screen or their order. As an Amazon Associate, CleanGlow earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
Clean cleansers from other brands
Same product category as GENTLE TOUCH Makeup Remover.
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm | Glow Recipe | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Rinse-Off Eye Makeup Solvent | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 3 | Gentle Gel Ceramide + Ectoin Cleanser | Skinfix | ✓ | 9/9 | Skinfix |
| 4 | Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
Glow RecipePapaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing BalmCleansers✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Glow Recipe Sephora
Full ingredient check: Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm →
CliniqueRinse-Off Eye Makeup SolventCleansers✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Clinique Sephora (search) Ulta
Clean lip care from other brands
Same product category as Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Gloss Balm Lip Treatment.
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Kissu Lip Treatment | Tatcha | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Moisture Surge Lip Hydro-Plump Treatment | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 3 | Peptide Lip Boost | Rhode | ✓ | 9/9 | Rhode |
| 4 | PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum | The Ordinary | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
TatchaThe Kissu Lip TreatmentLip Care✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →
CliniqueMoisture Surge Lip Hydro-Plump TreatmentLip Care✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Clinique Sephora (search) Ulta
Full ingredient check: Moisture Surge Lip Hydro-Plump Treatment →
Clean serums from other brands
Same product category as Clinical PRO Retinaldehyde Dual-Retinoid Treatment, Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel.
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indigo Overnight Repair | Tatcha | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum | Glow Recipe | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 3 | Equilibrium Restoring Essence | Hourglass | ✓ | 9/9 | Hourglass |
| 4 | Targeted Wrinkle Corrector | Murad | ✓ | 9/9 | Murad |
TatchaIndigo Overnight RepairSerums✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →
Glow RecipeGuava Vitamin C Dark Spot SerumSerums✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →
Clean sunscreen (chemical filters) from other brands
Same product category as 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer SPF 50, Clear Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30, Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 50, Resist Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50.
Supergoop!Unseen Sunscreen Body SPF 40Sunscreen (Chemical Filters)✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Supergoop! Sephora (search) Ulta
NeutrogenaClear Body SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray, Non-ComedogenicSunscreen (Chemical Filters)✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Neutrogena Ulta
Full ingredient check: Clear Body SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray, Non-Comedogenic →
Clean sunscreen (mineral filters) from other brands
Same product category as Defense Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF 30, Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30.
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50 | Tatcha | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | (Re)setting Mineral Powder SPF 35 | Supergoop! | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 3 | SunnyDays Tinted SPF 30 | Tower 28 | ✓ | 9/9 | Tower 28 |
| 4 | PLAY Mineral Lotion SPF 30 | Supergoop! | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
TatchaThe Silk Sunscreen SPF 50Sunscreen (Mineral Filters)✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →
Supergoop!(Re)setting Mineral Powder SPF 35Sunscreen (Mineral Filters)✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Supergoop! Sephora (search) Ulta
FAQ
Is Paula's Choice clean?
By our definition, 74 of the 84 Paula's Choice products we checked are clean: their listed ingredients contain none of our 10 watchlist groups. 10 are flagged. This is a check of ingredient lists, not a verdict on the brand, and it says nothing about how well any product works.
Why are some Paula's Choice products flagged?
The flags are due to titanium dioxide (9), parabens (1). The most common reason is titanium dioxide (9 products): IARC classifies titanium dioxide as Group 2B ("possibly carcinogenic to humans"), based on evidence from inhaling the powder. We flag every product that lists it, including where it is only a pigment, an opacifier or a "may contain" shade pigment, and including mineral sunscreens that use it as a UV filter. A flag means the ingredient is on the list. It is not a measured risk for that product. Source: IARC Monographs Vol. 93.
Which Paula's Choice product types pass our check?
Clean products by category (clean of checked): serums 28 of 30, face creams 18 of 18, cleansers 8 of 9, toners 9 of 9, body lotion 5 of 5, sunscreen (chemical filters) 1 of 5, lip care 3 of 4, sunscreen (mineral filters) 1 of 3, masks 1 of 1.
Where do the ingredient lists come from?
From paulaschoice.com (fetched 18 October 2026), unless the source column in the table says otherwise. All 84 come from paulaschoice.com. Formulas change and can differ by country, so always check the pack.
Are there clean alternatives to the flagged Paula's Choice products?
For each product category where a Paula's Choice product is flagged, the "Clean alternatives by product type" section on this page lists clean products from other brands in the same category. They are not presented as equivalents: we have not tested them and make no claim that they look, feel or work like the Paula's Choice product.
Related
- All Paula's Choice products
- Paula's Choice vs The Ordinary
- Best clean face serum
- Best clean toner
- Best fragrance-free moisturizer
- Best clean sunscreen
- Methodology
Hazard is not risk. An IARC classification says whether a substance can cause cancer under some conditions (e.g. titanium dioxide is classified for inhaled powder), not that a cosmetic containing it is harmful at normal use. EU restrictions set use limits. This page is informational, not medical advice; talk to a dermatologist about your own skin.