Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Spf 30 Combo/Oily Skin
82/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief is an SPF 30 mineral sunscreen for combination and oily skin, using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide as its only UV filters. It has a balanced, lightweight finish with low white cast and does not commonly sting, making it a gentle daily choice. Protection is good. With a strong 81.7/100 it is a well-rounded mineral option for sensitive, redness-prone skin.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
74
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- β1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
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White cast
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- β14 Zinc Oxide, 6% declared
- β7 Titanium Dioxide, 2.3% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β8 Pure mineral formula (8.3% total declared)
- +3.9 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +5.3 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina)
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Heavy feel
Low
79
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 6% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 2.3% declared
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
- +7 Volatile silicone at #5, flashes off
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Comedogenic
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- β17 Ethylhexyl Palmitate at #4, heavy comedogenic ester
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Fungal acne
High
32
- +100 Starting score
- β18 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 80)
- β50 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
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Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 6 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 Glycerin at #23, the anchor humectant
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Caprylyl Methicone)
- β 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- β 4 1 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Palmitate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 8 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 2 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- β 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (35)
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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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 7 2.3% declared
- β 10 2.3% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 14 6% declared
- β 8 6% declared
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
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3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 17 heavy comedogenic ester
- 4 β dewy slippy emollient ester
- β 24 feeds malassezia
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 18 feeds malassezia
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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17 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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21 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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23 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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24 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Botanical extract
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Supporting ingredient
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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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 Redness Relief leave a white cast?
No, white cast is low despite using mineral filters. It has a balanced, lightweight finish that helps the Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide blend on skin.
Is the Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Spf 30 Combo/Oily Skin mineral or chemical?
It is a fully mineral sunscreen, using only Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide as UV filters, which is generally gentle for sensitive, redness-prone skin.
Is Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief good for oily skin?
Yes, it is formulated for combination and oily skin, with low pore-clogging potential and no common stinging. With good protection and a score of 81.7/100, it is a strong gentle mineral option.