Paula's Choice Lipscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Versus Avène Sun Sensitive Lip Balm SPF 50+

Paula's Choice Lipscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Versus Avène Sun Sensitive Lip Balm SPF 50+

This barrier-repair lip moisturizer is formulated around Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2 and Butyrospermum Parkii Butter to strengthen the lip barrier and hydrate lips.

This lip moisturizer is formulated around Hydrogenated Castor Oil to hydrate lips.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

Homosalate 3%

Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%

Octocrylene 5%

Hydrogenated Soybean Oil

Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2

Hydrogenated Olive Oil

Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate

Beeswax

Ozokerite

Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil

Polyethylene

Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene

Microcrystalline Wax

Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter

Silica

Tocopheryl Acetate

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Phytosterols

Tocopherol

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

Copernicia Cerifera Wax

Water

Phenoxyethanol

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate 3%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 5%, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Beeswax, Ozokerite, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Polyethylene, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Microcrystalline Wax, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Water, Phenoxyethanol

Octyldodecanol

Butylene Glycol Cocoate

Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax

Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone

Ethylhexyl Salicylate

Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Aluminum Hydroxide

Butylene Glycol

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer

Oxothiazolidine

Saccharin

Sodium Benzoate

CI 77891

Tocopheryl Glucoside

Octyldodecanol, Polyethylene, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Beeswax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Water, Aluminum Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Oxothiazolidine, Saccharin, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77891, Tocopheryl Glucoside

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Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Beeswax is natural wax produced by honey bees to build their honeycomb.

Because it forms a protective layer on your skin, it can help lock in moisture and reduce water loss. It is also widely used as a thickener and emulsifier in lip balms and lotions. Research suggests beeswax containing moisturizers can support skin barrier integrity.

In comedogenic testing, Beeswax scored a 0-2, which is on the low end. Whether or not a product clogs your pores really comes down to the formula as a whole (not any single ingredient on its own).

Cera Alba is the white, bleached form of this ingredient.

Just so you know, beeswax is not vegan since it is animal-derived. It cannot be removed with water, but can be taken off with an oil cleanser.

People with a known Propolis allergy also report to have reactions from beeswax.

Beeswax's wax esters are derived primarily from palmitic and oleic acid (C16 and C18:1). Both of these fall within the C11-C24 feeding window.

The Malassezia yeast can potentially cleave these esters and release usable fatty acids, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. However, not everyone will react to this ingredient.

Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is an oil-soluble used to absorb the full spectrum of UVA rays (peak 357 nm).

It's one of the most effective UVA filters available but has a major caveat of photostability: avobenzone is susceptible to photodegradation.

This means it can lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight without the help of a stabilizing agent.

Studies show antioxidants (like vitamin E or vitamin C) and some UV filters (like octocrylene and Tinosorb S) can meaningfully improve its stability in a formulation.

The maximum allowable concentration according to regulation is 3% in the US + Canada, and 5% in the EU, Australia, China, Korea, and ASEAN countries.

It has a well-support safety profile: a comprehensive 2025 review found minimal toxicity with no evidence of carcinogenicity.

Overall, avobenzone is a safe and regulated ingredient used in sunscreen for over 40 years.

Ethylhexyl Salicylate (also called Octisalate or Octyl Salicylate) is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that's been used in sunscreen since the 1950's.

It absorbs UVB light in the 280-320 nm range with a peak absorbance around 306 nm.

You'll often see it paired with other UV filters to boost overall SPF because octisalate is a fairly week filter on its own.

The reason you'll see it so often is because it can help solubilize and stabilize the trickier filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone.

Unlike these filters, octisalate has pretty good photostability and doesn't create skin-damaging free radicals when exposed to sunlight.

The fatty-alcohol part of the molecule also gives it a light, emollient feel so it doubles as a nice texture enhancer.

Usage levels vary around the world:

Safety-wise, this ingredient has a pretty reassuring track record. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) found very low skin penetration in human skin tests and negative results for irritation, phototoxicity, and photoallergy.

The real-world allergy risk is pretty low too; a 2012 European study of 1,031 people recorded only 2 reactions to it (a rate of 0.19%).

You might have seen scary headlines about sunscreen getting into your blood.

In 2019, the FDA found that several chemical filters can absorb through the skin and show up in the bloodstream at small but measurable levels.

Here's the important part: these tiny levels are just a cutoff the FDA uses to decide which ingredients need more testing and doesn't mean anything harmful was found.

The researchers were clear that the results are no reason to stop wearing sunscreen.

Polyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.

It is also typically used within product formulations to help bind solid ingredients together and thicken oil-based ingredients. When added to balms and emulsions, it helps increase the melting point temperature.

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

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