Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier versus Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum .
Last updated on December 06, 2023. Published on August 14, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA, BHA and niacinamide
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Price
Ingredient Info
Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier 38 ingredients
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum 24 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier 38 ingredients
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum 24 ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier 38 ingredients
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum 24 ingredients
Water • Propanediol • Butylene Glycol • Ethoxydiglycol • Glycerin • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Panthenol • Salicylic Acid • Camellia Sinensis Leaf • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate • Coffea Arabica Fruit Extract • Ceramide NP • Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract • Panax Ginseng Root Extract • Niacinamide • Phytic Acid • Epigallocatechin Gallate • Adenosine • Ubiquinone • Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract • Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate • Lecithin • Centella Asiatica Extract • Sucrose Stearate • Glycine Soja Seed Extract • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Carbomer • Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Caprylyl Glycol • Polysorbate 20 • Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Sodium Hydroxide • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenoxyethanol
Water • Propanediol • Mandelic Acid • Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract • Gluconolactone • Sodium Hydroxide • Maltodextrin • Phenoxyethanol • Glycerin • Phytic Acid • Salicylic Acid • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Sodium Gluconate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Dextrin • Polydextrose • Amylopectin • Biosaccharide Gum-1 • Niacinamide • Sodium Citrate • Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract • Phenylpropanol • Sodium Dehydroacetate • Citric Acid
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterPaula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier contains this as ingredient number 1.
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.
It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolPaula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier contains this as ingredient number 2.
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPaula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier contains this as ingredient number 5.
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.
Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.
In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidPaula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier contains this as ingredient number 8.
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamidePaula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier contains this as ingredient number 16.
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.
Phytic Acid is a gentle AHA and antioxidant. The chemical makeup makes it classified as an AHA, such as lactic acid.
AHAs are chemical exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells. Phytic Acid has a slight exfoliating effect. Phytic Acid has been shown to help calm irritation. In some cases, it is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water, helping to stabilize the ingredients in a product.
As an antioxidant, phytic acid may help with the signs of aging. Antioxidants help neutralize free-radical molecules. These molecules may damage your skin cells.
An interesting fact about phytic acid is that it is considered an antinutrient. People do not have the enzyme needed to properly breakdown and digest phytic acid. When ingested, phytic acid binds to minerals and prevents them from being absorbed.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Phytic AcidPaula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier contains this as ingredient number 17.
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
Hydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
Hydroxyethylcellulose helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePaula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier contains this as ingredient number 35.
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxidePaula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier contains this as ingredient number 36.
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier contains this as ingredient number 37.
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier contains this as ingredient number 38.
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier 38 ingredients
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum 24 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier 38 ingredients
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum 24 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier 38 ingredients
MichelleR
It is such a beautiful formula. It has all the right ingredients and feels great on my skin. Unfortunately, I cannot tolerate potent forms of...
It is such a beautiful formula. It has all the right ingredients and feels great on my skin. Unfortunately, I cannot tolerate potent forms of Vitamin C. This product causes me to break out and I suspect it is the Ascorbyl Glucoside.
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum 24 ingredients
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