Paula's Choice Calm Mineral Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Spf 30 Dry Skin
85/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Paula's Choice Calm Mineral Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Dry Skin is a pure mineral sunscreen moisturizer using titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, aimed at sensitive and dry skin. It has a dewy finish, stays lightweight, shows little white cast for a mineral formula, and does not sting, with a low pore-clogging profile. Protection is rated good for daily SPF 30 wear. At 84.5/100 it is a strong gentle, fragrance-conscious option for those who prefer mineral filters.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
71
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
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White cast
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Zinc Oxide, 3.1% declared
- β7 Titanium Dioxide, 3.9% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β3 Pure mineral formula (7% total declared)
- +2.6 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +3.5 Coated minerals (Alumina, Methicone)
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Heavy feel
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 3.1% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 3.9% declared
- β2 Tribehenin at #30, wax film
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Fungal acne
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- β24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Stearate)
- β33 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Prunus Armeniaca Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin)
- β38 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
- β10 2 different Malassezia-feeding families high in the list
- +5 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
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Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β10 Titanium Dioxide at #4, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 Zinc Oxide at #6, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 Glycerin at #17, the anchor humectant
- β 4 1 emollient lipids (Prunus Armeniaca Oil)
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
- β 6 Ceramide barrier lipids
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Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 3 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Isononyl Isononanoate)
- β 15 2 emollient lipids (Prunus Armeniaca Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 2 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 6 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 6 High mineral load at #4 greys under foundation
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (42)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 β dewy emollient lipid
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)
- β 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 7 3.9% declared
- β 10 3.9% declared
- β 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- pills β 6 High mineral load greys under foundation
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Plant oil, an emollient
- 4 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 24 feeds malassezia
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- β 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 6 3.1% declared
- β 8 3.1% declared
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 24 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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13 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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17 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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18 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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23 Ubiquinone
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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24 Ceramide NG
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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25 Methicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Botanical extract
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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30 Tribehenin
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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34 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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37 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does Paula's Choice Calm Mineral Moisturizer SPF 30 leave a white cast?
It generally shows little white cast for a mineral formula. It uses titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with a dewy finish that suits dry skin.
Is the Paula's Choice Calm Mineral Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Spf 30 Dry Skin mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen. Its only filters are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, with no chemical UV filters.
Is Paula's Choice Calm Mineral Moisturizer SPF 30 good?
Yes. It scores 84.5/100 with good protection. It is gentle, lightweight, and does not sting, making it a strong pick for sensitive, dry skin.