Dr. Brandt Pores No More Refiner Primer

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Refiner Primer

Efficacy50/100IrritancyHigh

Works for

Exfoliation
Capryloyl salicylic acid
Works well
What the product description says
“A soothing derivative of Salicylic Acid gently exfoliates away dead skin cells and oil build-up for a smooth canvas.”
Source: Ulta

This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: capryloyl salicylic acid.

Capryloyl salicylic acidKey activeEffect: High~0.4–0.95%
Anti-aging
No ingredient credited for this claim
Not delivered
What the product description says
“It owes its mattifying skills to Oil-Absorbing Spheres that also diffuses light, instantly minimizing the appearance of pores and fine lines.”
Source: Ulta

Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.

Evens skin tone
Side benefit · Capryloyl salicylic acid
May help

The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: capryloyl salicylic acid.

Capryloyl salicylic acidKey activeEffect: Medium~0.4–0.95%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
3 strong irritants: Lavandula angustifolia oil, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil + 1 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 8 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Capryloyl salicylic acid—High~0.4–0.95%est.
Lavandula angustifolia oilAn essential oil. Potential allergen and can be irritating. It has some anti-bacterial propertiesHigh~0.35–0.85%est.
Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oilAn essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial propertiesHigh~0.15–0.7%est.
Trifolium pratense flower extractRed clover flower extract. Can contain anti-oxidants but also potential irritant compoundsHigh~0.1–0.35%est.
Lauryl peg/ppg-18/18 methiconeHelps oil and water mix together. It might be irritating for some peopleMedium~3.4–5.1%est.
ChlorphenesinA preservativeMedium~0.16–0.32%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~0.3–0.7%est.
Laureth-12Helps water and oil mix togetherMedium~0.1–0.3%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Ethylhexyl palmitateAn emollient that helps soften the skin and create a nice product texture3/5~0.45–1.05%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Cyclopentasiloxane~23–34%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingMattifying

A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin

More about Cyclopentasiloxane
Water~12–18%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Dimethicone crosspolymer~5.3–7.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to create a thicker product texture. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and might be able to prevent moisture loss from its surface

More about Dimethicone crosspolymer
Lauryl peg/ppg-18/18 methicone~3.4–5.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps oil and water mix together. It might be irritating for some people

More about Lauryl peg/ppg-18/18 methicone
Methyl methacrylate crosspolymer~2.7–4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Mattifying

Helps thicken the product consistency

More about Methyl methacrylate crosspolymer
Polymethylsilsesquioxane~2–3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A silicone that improves product texture and helps dissolve other ingredients. Can form a non-greasy film on the skin to prevent moisture loss

More about Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer~1.6–2.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to stabilize product formulations and create a nice product texture

More about Dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer
Polysilicone-11~1.5–2.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MattifyingMoisturizing

A silicone that forms a light film on the skin surface helping to bind water and temporarily absorb oils creating a matt and powdery feel

More about Polysilicone-11
Titanium dioxide~1.6–2.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Sun protection

Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin

More about Titanium dioxide
Dimethyl isosorbide~1–1.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to dissolve other ingredients in a product and can enhance their ability to penetrate the skin

More about Dimethyl isosorbide
Polymethyl methacrylate~0.9–1.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Is used to enhance product texture and can help to optically mask skin imperfections

More about Polymethyl methacrylate
Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Peg/ppg-18/18 dimethicone~0.5–1.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A silicone that mixes with water creating nice light-weight product texture

More about Peg/ppg-18/18 dimethicone
Isopentyldiol~0.45–1.05%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Helps dissolve other ingredients in a formulation

More about Isopentyldiol
Ethylhexyl palmitate~0.45–1.05%
Comedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin and create a nice product texture

More about Ethylhexyl palmitate
Capryloyl salicylic acid~0.4–0.95%
Key activeIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
ExfoliationAnti-blemishEvens skin tone
More about Capryloyl salicylic acid
Chlorphenesin~0.16–0.32%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Chlorphenesin
Lavandula angustifolia oil~0.35–0.85%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An essential oil. Potential allergen and can be irritating. It has some anti-bacterial properties

More about Lavandula angustifolia oil
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.3–0.7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil~0.15–0.7%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Antibacterial

An essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties

More about Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil
Silica~0.4–0.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to absorb oil and can temporarily mattify skin

More about Silica
Triethoxycaprylylsilane~0.15–0.65%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A type of silicone that helps oil and water mix well together. Helps to disperse other ingredients, e.g. pigments, evenly in a formulation

More about Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Hdi/trimethylol hexyllactone crosspolymer~0.1–0.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to create a silky product texture and add volume to products

More about Hdi/trimethylol hexyllactone crosspolymer
Dimethyl oxobenzo dioxasilane~0.1–0.45%
Formula
Silica dimethyl silylate~0.15–0.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Silica dimethyl silylate
Trifolium pratense flower extract~0.1–0.35%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-oxidation

Red clover flower extract. Can contain anti-oxidants but also potential irritant compounds

More about Trifolium pratense flower extract
Laureth-12~0.1–0.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

More about Laureth-12
Iron oxides~0.05–0.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Sun protection

An umbrella term for the following three colorants: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499. They might be able to offer some protection against visible light, but the degree of the protection is not clear

More about Iron oxides
Ingredient list view

Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Dimethicone crosspolymer, Lauryl peg/ppg-18/18 methicone, Methyl methacrylate crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, Polysilicone-11, Titanium dioxide, Dimethyl isosorbide, Polymethyl methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Peg/ppg-18/18 dimethicone, Isopentyldiol, Ethylhexyl palmitate, Capryloyl salicylic acid, Chlorphenesin, Lavandula angustifolia oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, Silica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Hdi/trimethylol hexyllactone crosspolymer, Dimethyl oxobenzo dioxasilane, Silica dimethyl silylate, Trifolium pratense flower extract, Laureth-12, Iron oxides

Compare prices

Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.

Amazon USPrice as of 11/12 15:11 GMT
$38.40
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Dermstore30 ml
$48.00
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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
Dr. BrandtPores No More Refiner PrimerYOUR PRODUCTKiehl'sMicro-Blur Skin PerfectorJUMISOPore-Rest LHA Sebum Control Facial CreamAXISLHA Peel & Fill Pore Balance Cream
Match—51%51%50%
Price$48.00$19.25−$28.75$13.54−$34.46$22.00−$26.00
Shared key ingredients—4 of 72 of 72 of 7
Key difference—DimethiconePanthenolPanthenol
Irritancy High High Medium Medium
Drying alcohol— Contains drying alcohol ——
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 3 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
Dr. Brandt Pores No More Refiner Primer
Dr. BrandtPores No More Refiner Primer

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.