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Pipette Balm Stick Versus Paula's Choice On-The-Go Shielding Powder SPF 30

Pipette Balm Stick Versus Paula's Choice On-The-Go Shielding Powder SPF 30 This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This mineral sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Pipette Balm Stick Versus Paula's Choice On-The-Go Shielding Powder SPF 30

This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.

This mineral sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~97% of UVB at SPF 30.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Squalane

Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax

Stearyl Behenate

Polyhydroxystearic Acid

Jojoba Esters

Mangifera Indica Seed Butter

Ceramide NP

Bisabolol

Tocopherol

Glyceryl Caprylate

Glyceryl Undecylenate

Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Stearyl Behenate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Ceramide NP, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate

Zinc Oxide 19.24%

Synthetic Fluorphlogopite

Boron Nitride

Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer

Silica

Oryza Sativa Bran

Zea Mays Starch

Butylene Glycol

Stearic Acid

Olive Glycerides

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Salix Nigra Bark Extract

Water

Triethoxycaprylylsilane

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Nylon-6/12

EDTA

Retinyl Palmitate

Potassium Sorbate

Chlorphenesin

Iron Oxides

Zinc Oxide 19.24%, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Silica, Oryza Sativa Bran, Zea Mays Starch, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Olive Glycerides, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Water, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Nylon-6/12, EDTA, Retinyl Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Iron Oxides

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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.

Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.

Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.

This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.

A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.

Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.

Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.

Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.

Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.

You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.

Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.

It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.

This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.

This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.

In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.

Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

01

Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Explained

  1. 01These ingredients are found in both products.
  2. 02Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
  3. 03Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
  4. 04Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
  5. 05This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
  6. 06A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
  7. 07Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
  8. 08Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
  9. 09Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
  10. 10Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
  11. 11Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
  12. 12Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
  13. 13Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
  14. 14This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
  15. 15Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
  16. 16Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
  17. 17Lactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
  18. 18Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
  19. 19Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
  20. 20Like glycolic acid, it can:
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
02

Product index

Related product references

Product

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Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster ingredients explained: Aqua/Water/Eau⁠, Ascorbic Acid⁠, Glycerin⁠, Ethoxydiglycol⁠, PPG-26-Buteth-26⁠, Mannitol⁠, Tridecape…

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03

Comparison edit

Read side by side

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