Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ versus Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 .
Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on March 23, 2021
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain SPF
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Sunscreen
Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
Price
Ingredient Info
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 34 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 45 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
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:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
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:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 34 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 45 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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.
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 34 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 45 ingredients
Water • Alcohol Denat. • Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate • Ethylhexyl Triazone • Isopropyl Palmitate • Peg-Crosspolymer • Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate • Hydrogenated Polyisobutene • Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine • Palmitic Acid • Butylene Glycol • Xylitol • Dimethicone • C16-17 Alkyl Benzoate • Glycerin • Glyceryl Stearate • Propanediol • Glyceryl Behenate • Polymethylsilsesquioxane/Silica Crosspolymer • Heptanol • Agar • Sorbitan Distearate • Isoceteth-20 • Polyvinyl Alcohol • Stearoyl Glutamic Acid • Arginine • Potassium Hydroxide • Sodium Hydroxide • Royal Jelly Extract • Hyaluronic Acid • Phenoxyethanol • EDTA • BHT • Parfum
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3% • Homosalate 5% • Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5% • Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5% • Benzophenone-3 5% • Water • Silica • Glycerin • Cetearyl Alcohol • Dimethicone • Butylene Glycol • Pentylene Glycol • Potassium Cetyl Phosphate • Cyclopentasiloxane • Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract • Vp/Eicosene Copolymer • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Allantoin • Niacinamide • Tocopherol • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Atractylodes Macrocephala Root Powder • Avena Sativa Kernel Extract • Coffea Arabica Seed Extract • Portulaca Oleracea Extract • Mahonia Aquifolium Root Extract • Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate • Sarcosine • Capryloyl Glycine • Maltooligosyl Glucoside • Cetearyl Glucoside • Dimethiconol • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate • Hexylene Glycol • 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol • Glyceryl Stearate • Peg-100 Stearate • Sodium Hydroxide • Xanthan Gum • Disodium EDTA • Phenoxyethanol • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin
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 WaterBiore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 6.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateBiore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 3.
Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 3.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 11.
Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 11.
Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 14.
Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 10.
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 GlycerinBiore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 16.
Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 8.
Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
Glyceryl Stearate is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced. The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateBiore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 17.
Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 38.
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 HydroxideBiore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 30.
Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 40.
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.
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ contains this as ingredient number 33.
Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 43.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 34 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 45 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 34 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 45 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 34 ingredients
imyourdorito
I'll start by saying that yes, this feels like practically nothing on the skin, and it's very similar to a primer as far as texture goes.
BUT...
I'll start by saying that yes, this feels like practically nothing on the skin, and it's very similar to a primer as far as texture goes.
BUT once applied, I didn't feel the same level of protection as with the European SPFs I used to use. I even applied half of each on my face to compare:
With the European one I experienced a cooling effect and didn't feel any heat touching my skin, it was like being hugged by icecream (a weird comparison, but it's the closest I can think of). Meanwhile, with this one, I didn't feel anything? I felt the heat touching my skin as much as on my non-protected areas, and there was no cooling effect whatsoever.
Is it cosmetically elegant? Yes. Is it cheaper than any European SPF? Yes. But I prefer not to play around with sun protection knowing the damage it can cause, and I don't feel 100% safe using this one.
Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50 45 ingredients
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See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50.
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