Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 .
Last updated on September 12, 2023. Published on April 03, 2022
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain ceramides, hyaluronic acid, SPF and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances or parabens
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Day Moisturizer
Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
Price
Ingredient Info
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 31 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 43 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:
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 🎉
Vegan
This product is 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:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
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
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 31 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 43 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 31 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 43 ingredients
Water • Homosalate • Glycerin • Octocrylene • Ethylhexyl Salicylate • Niacinamide • Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate • Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane • Dimethicone • Cetearyl Alcohol • Peg-100 Stearate • Glyceryl Stearate • Phenoxyethanol • Stearic Acid • Behentrimonium Methosulfate • Caprylyl Glycol • Palmitic Acid • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Xanthan Gum • Disodium EDTA • Tocopherol • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Myristic Acid • Sodium Hyaluronate • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Phytosphingosine • Cholesterol • Carbomer • Ethylhexylglycerin • Ceramide EOP
Titanium Dioxide 3.85% • Zinc Oxide 3.12% • Water • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Isononyl Isononanoate • Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil • Cyclopentasiloxane • Glyceryl Stearate • Peg-100 Stearate • Butylene Glycol • Pentylene Glycol • Cetearyl Alcohol • Dimethicone • Glycine Soja Sterols • Vp/Eicosene Copolymer • Avena Sativa Kernel Extract • Glycerin • Sodium Hyaluronate • Allantoin • Tocopheryl Acetate • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate • Superoxide Dismutase • Ubiquinone • Ceramide Ng • Methicone • Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 • Peg-10 Dimethicone • Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Tribehenin • Peg-10 Phytosterol • Sorbitan Stearate • Polyhydroxystearic Acid • Alumina • Polysorbate 20 • Aluminum Stearate • Xanthan Gum • Caprylyl Glycol • Disodium EDTA • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenoxyethanol • Chlorphenesin
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 WaterCeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 3.
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 GlycerinCeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 3.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 17.
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.
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 9.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 13.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 10.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 12.
Peg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Peg-100 Stearate helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. It helps prevent oil and water from separating in a product. By binding oil and water, it helps remove dirt and oil to be rinsed away.
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 11.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 9.
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 StearateCeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 12.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 8.
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.
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 13.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 42.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 16.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 39.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumCeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 19.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 38.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTACeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 20.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 40.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateCeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 24.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 18.
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.
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 30.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 41.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 31 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 43 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 31 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 43 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 31 ingredients
feels a bit heavy on my skin
its a good moisturizer that doesnt leave a white cast and it has spf
but i dont really like the feeling it feels heavy and i have oily skin
feels a bit heavy on my skin
its a good moisturizer that doesnt leave a white cast and it has spf
but i dont really like the feeling it feels heavy and i have oily skin
Amazing!
This moisturizer is great, itś good for fighting acne and it feel nice after you putted it on your face. It's also great that there is SPF in it so you won't buy sunscreen. The price is great.
Amazing!
This moisturizer is great, itś good for fighting acne and it feel nice after you putted it on your face. It's also great that there is SPF in it so you won't buy sunscreen. The price is great.
Good product but not for oily skin.
I enjoyed using it during the depth of winter when my skin was very irritated and sensitized by the cold weather. It really helped with repairing my skin barrier and I saw skin improvements with...
Good product but not for oily skin.
I enjoyed using it during the depth of winter when my skin was very irritated and sensitized by the cold weather. It really helped with repairing my skin barrier and I saw skin improvements with regular use. However, I found it to be a little too greasy and oily for my taste and it does not go well with make up.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 43 ingredients
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