Paula's Choice Redness Relief SPF 30 Mineral Moisturizer For Normal To Oily Skin (2023)
74/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Paula's Choice Redness Relief SPF 30 is a pure mineral moisturizer using Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, aimed at normal to oily and reactive skin. It has a balanced finish and is generally non-stinging with low breakout risk, but the dense mineral pairing can leave a more visible white cast. Wear is moderate in weight and it sits okay under makeup. With a score of 73.8/100 and good protection, it is a solid soothing daily option for those who prefer minerals.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
73
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- β0.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
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White cast
High
16
- +100 Starting score
- β55 Zinc Oxide at #3
- β35 Titanium Dioxide at #5
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β15 Pure mineral formula
- +15 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
- +10 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +6.3 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
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Heavy feel
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Zinc Oxide at #3
- β16 Titanium Dioxide at #5
- +14 Volatile silicone at #4, flashes off
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Comedogenic
Low
68
- +100 Starting score
- β32 Ethylhexyl Palmitate at #2, 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 Zinc Oxide at #3, 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 #3, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 Glycerin at #22, 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 3 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- β 6 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 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 2 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- β 3 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 15 High mineral load at #3 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 (34)
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
- β 32 heavy comedogenic ester
- 6 β dewy slippy emollient ester
- β 36 feeds malassezia
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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 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
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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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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)
- β 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 18 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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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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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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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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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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22 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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23 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Botanical extract
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
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
-
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 the Paula's Choice Redness Relief SPF 30 Mineral Moisturizer For Normal To Oily Skin (2023) leave a white cast?
It can leave a more visible white cast, since it relies on Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. The balanced finish helps, but expect some brightness on deeper skin tones.
Is the Paula's Choice Redness Relief SPF 30 Mineral Moisturizer For Normal To Oily Skin (2023) good for oily or sensitive skin?
It is aimed at normal to oily and redness-prone skin, with low breakout risk and a generally non-stinging feel. That makes it a soothing daily option for reactive complexions.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral moisturizer with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, so it contains no chemical UV filters.