Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Spf 30
62/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense SPF 30 is a chemical sunscreen using homosalate, oxybenzone (benzophenone-3), avobenzone and octocrylene with a little titanium dioxide. It sets to a matte finish with no visible white cast, feels lightweight, and is generally low for clogging pores, though it can sting somewhat near the eyes. SPF 30 gives good protection. The older filter set, including oxybenzone, holds the score to 62.2/100, making it a mattifying but dated daily option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
66
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +22 Benzophenone-3 at #3, 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 #23, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- β6.2 UVB coverage saturated
- β9.7 UVA2 coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Low
2
- +100 Starting score
- β70 Oxybenzone at #3 (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)
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White cast
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Titanium Dioxide at #23 (nano)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
44
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Oxybenzone at #3, 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 #3, yellow stains on white cotton
- β15 Octocrylene at #7, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #23, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 6.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- β 1 Humectant polyols
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 7 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 1 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¨ Vitamin E
- β¨ Bisabolol
Full ingredient list (30)
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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Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 22 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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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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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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13 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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14 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Botanical extract
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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17 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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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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24 Sorbic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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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
Is Paula's Choice Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense SPF 30 good for oily skin?
Yes, it is generally suitable. The finish is matte and it rates low for pore-clogging, so it commonly works for oily and breakout-prone skin.
Is Paula's Choice Ultra-Sheer SPF 30 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen, using homosalate, oxybenzone, avobenzone and octocrylene with a little titanium dioxide.
Is Paula's Choice Ultra-Sheer SPF 30 a good sunscreen?
It scores 62.2/100, a middling result. SPF 30 gives good protection, but the older filter set, including oxybenzone, holds back the rating.