Paula's Choice Resist Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum Versus Pipette Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Resveratrol and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and calm redness.
This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolysilicone-11
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantResveratrol
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingQuercetin
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantSea Whip Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
ChelatingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Polysilicone-11, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Hyaluronic Acid, Resveratrol, Niacinamide, Quercetin, Adenosine, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Phospholipids, Ubiquinone, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Sea Whip Extract, Bisabolol, Beta-Glucan, Phytic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Zinc Oxide 20%
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientMethyl Dihydroabietate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCetyl Palmitate
EmollientCoco-Glucoside
CleansingEthyl Ferulate
AntioxidantCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingLecithin
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantPhysalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSodium Gluconate
ChelatingIsostearic Acid
CleansingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientZinc Oxide 20%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Palmitate, Coco-Glucoside, Ethyl Ferulate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Lecithin, Bisabolol, Physalis Angulata Extract, Xanthan Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Isostearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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