Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-sheer Daily Defense SPF 15
62/100 overall score
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Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
65
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #4, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #7, UV filter
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #24, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- β5.7 UVB coverage saturated
- β9.1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
β’οΈ
Health safety
Low
2
- +100 Starting score
- β70 Oxybenzone at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β14 Homosalate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
π€§
Allergens
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
49
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β11 Oxybenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
π
Fungal acne
Medium
70
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20)
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Steareth-21, Steareth-2)
π
Fabric stains
High
8
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #5, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β20 Oxybenzone at #4, yellow stains on white cotton
- β15 Octocrylene at #7, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #24, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 8 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- β 2 Humectant polyols
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 9 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 6 2 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Green tea
- β¨ Aloe vera
- β¨ Vitamin C
- β¨ Adenosine
- β¨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (31)
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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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)
- β 20.9 UV protection
- β 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- β 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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6 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- β 15.2 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Botanical extract
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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15 Adenosine
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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16 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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17 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Botanical extract
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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20 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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pH adjuster
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26 Steareth-21
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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27 Steareth-2
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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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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31 Sorbic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling