Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Daytime Moisturizer SPF 15 Normal To Dry
79/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Daytime Moisturizer SPF 15 for Normal to Dry skin is a mineral sunscreen and moisturizer using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. The dewy finish suits drier, sensitive skin and it generally does not sting, with a medium chance of visible cast and a medium-weight feel. It is low risk for clogging pores. With good protection for its category and a score of 79.1/100, it is a strong calming daytime moisturizer with sun protection.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
70
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
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White cast
Medium
31
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Zinc Oxide at #6
- β35 Titanium Dioxide at #4
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β15 Pure mineral formula
- +9 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +12.2 Coated minerals (Alumina, Methicone)
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Heavy feel
Medium
60
- +100 Starting score
- β22 Zinc Oxide at #6
- β16 Titanium Dioxide at #4
- 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 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #18, hyaluronic family
- 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 (41)
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 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)
- 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
-
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
-
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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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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19 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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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
-
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
Is this Paula's Choice moisturizer good for sensitive or dry skin?
Yes, generally. The dewy finish suits normal to dry, sensitive skin, and it does not commonly sting. It is also low risk for clogging pores.
Is the Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Daytime Moisturizer SPF 15 Normal To Dry mineral or chemical?
It is a mineral sunscreen, using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It carries a medium chance of visible cast and a medium-weight feel.
Is it any good?
It scores 79.1/100 with good in-category protection, making it a strong calming daytime moisturizer with SPF. Note that SPF 15 is a baseline level, so layering may help for longer exposure.