Paula's Choice Calm Mineral Moisturizer SPF 30 for Normal To Dry Skin
84/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Paula's Choice Calm Mineral Moisturizer is an SPF 30 mineral formula using titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, aimed at normal to dry skin. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast, so it layers cleanly into a routine. Breakout risk is low and it does not commonly sting, which fits its calming, low- irritation focus. With good protection and a strong score of 84.4/100, it is a well-rounded mineral moisturizer for sensitive, drier skin.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
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
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
78
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 3.1% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 3.9% declared
- β2 Tribehenin at #31, wax film
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
- +7.5 Volatile silicone at #7, flashes off
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Fungal acne
High
15
- +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)
- β28 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (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
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 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 #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
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Isononyl Isononanoate)
- β 12 2 emollient lipids (Prunus Armeniaca Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 4 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- 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
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (43)
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 3.9% declared
- β 10 3.9% 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 6 3.1% declared
- β 8 3.1% 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
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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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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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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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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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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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
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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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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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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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24 Ubiquinone
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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25 Ceramide NG
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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26 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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31 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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35 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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38 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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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
Is Paula's Choice Calm Mineral Moisturizer mineral or chemical?
It is fully mineral, using titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as its UV filters.
Does the Paula's Choice Calm Mineral Moisturizer SPF 30 for Normal To Dry Skin leave a white cast?
No, white cast is low. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish, so it layers cleanly into a routine.
Is it good for sensitive or dry skin?
Yes. It is aimed at normal to dry skin with a calming focus, has low breakout risk, and does not commonly sting. It scores a strong 84.4/100 with good protection.