Paula's Choice Water-Infusing Electrolyte Moisturizer - EU Versus Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel
Updated on July 18, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain niacinamide and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, 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 needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Paula's Choice Water-Infusing Electrolyte Moisturizer 48 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel 28 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Paula's Choice Water-Infusing Electrolyte Moisturizer 48 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel 28 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
SolventStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientPotassium PCA
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Calcium PCA
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Olivate
EmollientPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingBiotin/Folic Acid/Cyanocobalamin/Niacinamide/Pantothenic Acid/Pyridoxine/Riboflavin/Thiamine/Yeast Polypeptides
Skin Conditioning
Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Serotina Fruit Extract
MaskingSqualane
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-37
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Creatine
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Masking
Sorbitol
Humectant
Inositol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Behenate
EmollientTribehenin
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Isohexadecane, Potassium PCA, Magnesium PCA, Calcium PCA, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-4 Olivate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Biotin/Folic Acid/Cyanocobalamin/Niacinamide/Pantothenic Acid/Pyridoxine/Riboflavin/Thiamine/Yeast Polypeptides, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract, Squalane, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Pisum Sativum Extract, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Tocopherol, Creatine, Bisabolol, Sorbitol, Inositol, Xylitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Levulinate, Behenyl Behenate, Tribehenin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Bis-Phenylpropyl Dimethicone
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin ConditioningSuperoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Isohexadecane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Bis-Phenylpropyl Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Superoxide Dismutase, Isohexadecane, Panthenol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Carbomer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 80, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeButylene 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.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Isohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Learn more about IsohexadecaneWe don't have a description for Laminaria Saccharina Extract yet.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Paula's Choice Water-Infusing Electrolyte Moisturizer 48 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel 28 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Paula's Choice Water-Infusing Electrolyte Moisturizer 48 ingredients
Not sufficient moisturizing for dry skin, a little does not go a long way
This didn't make me break out, didn't pill, and plays nicely with the cream/liquid makeup formulas in my collection. That's about as good as it gets. I have dry skin in a dry environment and this was totally insufficient to use alone as a moisturizer, even during the day under a moisturizing sunscreen, and I would wake up Show more
This didn't do much for my skin. I pilled on my forehead and under my chin and neck. The moisture is ok for a bit, but then my skin dried out pretty quickly. Hydration did not last all day. Also not sweat proof. Sad, I really liked the idea of this moisturizer.
