Paula's Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer With SPF 50 Versus Nivea 2 In 1 Primer Daily UV Serum SPF 50+
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 5%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Atractylodes Macrocephala Root Powder
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Mahonia Aquifolium Root Extract
AstringentDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingSarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingMaltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantHexylene Glycol
Emulsifying4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 5%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Benzophenone-3, 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
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tapioca Starch
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCopernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantHyaluronic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Water, Alcohol Denat., Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dibutyl Adipate, Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Distarch Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tapioca Starch, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Palmitate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, CI 15985, CI 16035
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
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 HydroxideWater. 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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan 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 Gum
