Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ versus Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 .
Published on October 26, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free sunscreens. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants, SPF and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any oils, parabens or sulfates
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.
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.
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.
Price
Ingredient Info
Paula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ 29 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 31 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
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 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is 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 🎉
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
Paula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ 29 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 31 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Paula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ 29 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 31 ingredients
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2% • Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5% • Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5% • Octocrylene 2% • Water • Glycerin • Silica • Dimethicone • Benzyl Alcohol • Tocopherol • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract • Peucedanum Graveolens Extract • Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract • Avena Sativa Bran Extract • Punica Granatum Extract • Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Titanium Dioxide • Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Xanthan Gum • Sodium Carbomer • Sodium Benzoate • Potassium Sorbate • Phenoxyethanol
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3% • Homosalate 7% • Octocrylene 2% • Benzophenone-3 4% • Water • Butylene Glycol • Silica • Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate • Cetyl Dimethicone • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder • Ascorbyl Palmitate • Phospholipids • Superoxide Dismutase • Adenosine • Tocopherol • Bisabolol • Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract • Avena Sativa Kernel Extract • Panthenol • Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract • Salix Alba Bark Extract • Rosin Acrylate • Titanium Dioxide • Sodium Hydroxide • Steareth-21 • Steareth-2 • Polysorbate 20 • Disodium EDTA • Phenoxyethanol • Sorbic Acid
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.
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethanePaula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 1.
Octocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.
Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.
Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.
The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:
Learn more about OctocrylenePaula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ contains this as ingredient number 4.
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 3.
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 WaterPaula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ contains this as ingredient number 5.
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 5.
Silica is a mineral naturally found in our skin. It helps to thicken and smooth the texture of a product. It also acts as an agent for other ingredients by increasing the absorption of other ingredients into the skin.
Silica is often used for absorption and can help reduce shine when products are applied. Silica occurs in naturally in materials like clay and sandstone, and it can also be produced synthetically.
Silica is present naturally within the skin during collagen production and when reducing inflammation.
Learn more about SilicaPaula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ contains this as ingredient number 7.
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 7.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolPaula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ contains this as ingredient number 10.
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 16.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract is derived from the leaves of the tea plant. Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from this plant.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract has many benefits. It contains polyphenols, a strong antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off free-radical molecules that damage skin cells. The antioxidants in green tea neutralize free-radicals from the sun. This gives the skin some extra UV protection, but should not replace sunscreen.
Many components of tea have anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenols and L-theanine help soothe the skin and reduce irritation. L-theanine is an amino acid that makes up most of the amino acids found in tea leaves. The caffeine in Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract helps calm inflamed blood vessels.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract also contains Vitamin Bs, linoleic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract also has antimicrobial properties.
Research has shown both drinking Camellia Sinensis Leaf Tea and applying it to the skin can help boost skin elasticity and hydration. Studies also show using tea extract may reduce sebum, or oil, production.
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractPaula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ contains this as ingredient number 13.
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 10.
Titanium dioxide is known for its UVA and UVB protection properties. It is non-comedogenic and non-irritating. Titanium Dioxide is a physical sunscreen. Physical sunscreens reflect light and prevent it from reaching your skin.
Protecting your skin against UV radiation can prevent the signs of aging. Sun damage is associated with fine-lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness, and hyperpigmentation. Titanium dioxide can help prevent premature aging.
With modern production, nano-scale or fine-grade titanium dioxide can be easily produced for cosmetics. In sunscreen, titanium dioxide absorbs UV light. Our skin is not able to absorb Titanium dioxide, even nanoparticles.
Titanium itself is the 9th most common element in the Earth's crust. Titanium dioxide is formed when oxygen is introduced and can be found in ores, dust, sand, and soil.
Pure titanium dioxide is a white powder that is used in many products to add or change color.
Learn more about Titanium DioxidePaula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ contains this as ingredient number 21.
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 24.
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.
Paula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ contains this as ingredient number 30.
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 30.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Paula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ 29 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 31 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Paula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+ 29 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 31 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Ultra-Light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30+.
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