Paula's Choice Defense Essential Glow Moisturiser Spf 30
82/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Paula's Choice Defense Essential Glow Moisturiser is an SPF 30 daily moisturiser that uses a pure mineral filter blend of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. It keeps a balanced finish with low white cast and a lightweight feel, and its low breakout-trigger profile makes it generally suitable for everyday wear under skincare. The mineral filters offer broad-spectrum UV defense, and it works okay as a base under makeup. With a strong score of 82.2 and good protection, it is a solid pick for those who prefer mineral sunscreens.
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
62
- +100 Starting score
- β14 Zinc Oxide, 6.1% declared
- β18 Titanium Dioxide, 5.3% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β8 Pure mineral formula (11.4% total declared)
- +5 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +6.8 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina)
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Heavy feel
Low
72
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 6.1% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 5.3% declared
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
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Fungal acne
High
38
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Linoleic Acid)
- β18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Lecithin)
- β32 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Laureth-7)
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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 1 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 10 Glycerin at #5, the anchor humectant
- β 1 Humectant polyols
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Isononyl Isononanoate)
- β 7 2 emollient lipids (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 4 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Polyacrylamide)
- β 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
- 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
Full ingredient list (45)
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 18 5.3% declared
- β 10 5.3% 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 6.1% declared
- β 8 6.1% 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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5 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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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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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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10 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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Plant oil, an emollient
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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17 Resveratrol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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19 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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22 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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23 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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25 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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27 Xanthophylls
Supporting ingredient
-
28 Pullulan
Supporting ingredient
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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30 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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32 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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34 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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41 Ceteareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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43 Laureth-7
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Is this a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen. It uses titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as its only UV filters, with no chemical filters, so it is generally a good fit for those who prefer mineral formulas.
Does the Paula's Choice Defense Essential Glow Moisturiser Spf 30 leave a white cast?
White cast is rated low here. Despite being a mineral SPF 30, it is tuned to wear with a balanced finish and minimal cast, so it commonly looks natural on most skin tones.
Is the Paula's Choice Defense Essential Glow Moisturiser Spf 30 good for acne-prone skin?
It is generally friendly for breakout-prone skin. Its breakout-trigger risk is rated low and the finish is balanced, so it tends to sit comfortably without feeling greasy.