
Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol
Welcome to our explanation of everything that you need to know about Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol. Let’s get started!
- cruelty-free general moisturizer that contains ceramides, peptides, retinoid and vitamin e.
- it doesn't contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens, silicones or sulfates.
- it does contain oils.
- it is likely to be good for anti aging and brightening skin.
- it is fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe.
At a glance
Notable Ingredients

This product contains 1 ingredient 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:

This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits

This product contains 1 ingredient 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:

This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:

This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:

This product contains 2 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:

This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:

This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns

This product contains 1 ingredient 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:
Ingredient Info

Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉

Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉

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:

Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉

Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉

Eu Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉

Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥

Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol Ingredient List (28)
Water • Dicaprylyl Carbonate • Glycerin • Ethylhexyl Stearate • Cocoglycerides • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Squalane • Sodium Polyacrylate • Lecithin • Adenosine • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 • Ceramide NP • Retinol • Punica Granatum Extract • Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane • Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane • Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane • Tocopheryl Acetate • Chamomilla Recutita Extract • Glycine Soja Seed Extract • Glycine Soja Oil • Butylene Glycol • Propylene Glycol • Glyceryl Polymethacrylate • Xanthan Gum • Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
This product contains 28 ingredients. Click on any ingredient to learn more about it
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's there to help 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!
Dicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin and helps moisturize and protect your skin. A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
Glycerin is a humectant, helping the skin retain moisture by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin. Having moisturized skin helps improve the skin barrier. Your skin barrier protects against skin 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, animal sources include tallow. It is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English while British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Ethylhexyl Stearate is an ester of 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and stearic acid. It is an emulsifier, emollient, and texture enhancer.
As an emulsifier, it helps prevent ingredients from separating.
Its emollient property helps soften and hydrate the skin. Emollients form a barrier on the skin to trap moisture in.
Cocoglycerides is made from the mono, di and triglycerides of coconut oil. It is an emollient and emulsifer.
Emollients are a type of moisturizer. They create a thin film on top of the skin. This film prevents moisture from escaping, keeping the skin hydrated.
Emulsifiers prevent ingredients from separating. Examples of this include oils and water, which naturally do not mix. Emulsifiers helps elongate the shelf life of a product. They also help the product stay consistent in texture.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter is a plant lipid from the fruit of the Shea Tree. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. It does this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
Squalane is an emollient that helps the skin hold onto moisture. It's an oily liquid that occurs naturally in certain types of fish and plant oils.
Because Squalane boosts hydration in the skin, it also comes with plenty of benefits. Squalane is an antioxidant and can help fight free radicals and skin damage. Squalane is also found to have a detoxifying effect when applied.
Squalane comes from squalene, which occurs naturally within the sebum of our skin. It is one of the oils our skin produces to keep itself hydrated. Squalane is the hydrogenated version of squalene and has a longer shelf life.
Research shows that Squalane is non-irritating (even at 100% concentration).
In general, it's a fantastic ingredient. It does a great job at hydrating the skin, and it's suitable for those with sensitive skin.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Sodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid.
Sodium Polyacrylate is a super-absorbent polymer. It can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Sodium Polyacrylate is also used to stabilize products.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of fatty acids. These fatty acids usually are a mixture of phosphoric acid's choline ester connected to stearic, oleic, and palmitic acids. Most lecithins are created from plant ingredients scuh as sunflower.
Lecithin is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin. The phospholipids in Lecithin can produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a 3-amino acid peptide. Peptides are building blocks for protein.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a signal peptide. This means it tells our skin to create collagen. Collagen is a protein that makes connective tissue. Boosting collagen production leads to a healthier skin barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier means having firm and hydrated skin.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 can help reduce wrinkles and make the skin look more youthful.
Read more about other common types of peptides here:
* Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
* Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
* Copper Tripeptide-1



Ceramide NP is one type of ceramide.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.
Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here:
Ceramide AP
Ceramide EOP











Retinol, AKA Vitamin A. Unlike AHA's, retinol does not remove the top layer of old and dead skin cells. Instead, it travels directly to the middle layer and gets to work. It neutralizes free radicals, boosting elastin and collagen production. This in turn makes retinol effective in removing fine lines, wrinkles, and enlarged pores.
Retinol is sensitive to breakdown when exposed to sun and air. It will also make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so it is recommended to wear SPF after applying retinol.
It is not recommended to use any retinols while pregnant. Retinol may cause irritation in some people.
Read about Tretinoin
Punica Granatum extract comes from the pomegranate.
Pomegranates are rich in fatty acids, including an unsaturated fatty acid by the name of Punicic acid. Other components of pomegranates include Vitamin E, and Vitamin C.
As an astringent, Punica Granatum Extract shrinks tissue by drawing water out of your skin. This leads to a tightening effect in the skin.
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract is the extract of the leaves of Camellia Oleifera, Theaceae.
Camellia Oleifera Leaf is a green tea plant native to China. It is closely related to Camellia sinensis. Both plants have very similar properties.
Camellia Oleifera Leaf is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals. Antioxidants may help reduce the signs of aging.
Camellia Oleifera Leaf also has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. Licorice Root Extract has been found to have several benefits.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.

Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane is an antioxidant.

Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane is an antioxidant.

Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane is an antioxidant.



Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Chamomilla Recutita Extract comes from the Chamomile flower.
Chamomile is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Several compounds found in chamomile help with soothing, such as bisbolol.
Antioxidant components in chamomile help fight free-radical molecules. These unstable molecules may damage your skin cells. By stabilizing them, antioxidants may help reduce the signs of aging.
Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians used Chamomile to treat skin redness and dryness. Chamomile has also been used to help with stomach issues.
We don't have a description for Glycine Soja Seed Extract.

Glycine Soja Oil comes from the soybean. Glycine Soja is native to eastern Asia.
Soybean oil is an emollient. It is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids including palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids.
As an emollient, the fatty acids in soybean oil helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. It does so by creating a film on top that traps moisture in.
Soybean oil is also rich in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Vitamin E is also anti-inflammatory and provides a soothing effect.
Studies show soy may help fade hyperpigmentation from UVB. It does so by disrupting the melanin process from UVB induced skin inflammation.
Soybeans are rich in proteins and are part of the legume family. Foods made with soybeans include tofu, soymilk, edamame, miso, and soy sauce.
Butylene 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.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients, helping other ingredients work better.
It prevents a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
Propylene Glycol is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may deliver a rash when using this ingredient. It is best to consult a professional for advice.
We don't have a description for Glyceryl Polymethacrylate.
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.

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.
Beautiful widgets for your website
Here's what our community thinks of the 28 ingredients in this product ✨
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
Directions
Ideal for softening and smoothing the face, neck and eye area. At night, use as the last step in your skincare routine. For daytime, follow with a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or greater.
When to use
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 1 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to this product.
See 1 alternativesCompared With
Here are some products that Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol is often compared with.
Want to compare it with a different product? Head on over to our comparisons tool and you can!