Paula's Choice 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer SPF 50 Versus Paula's Choice Resist Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30

Paula's Choice 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer SPF 50 Versus Paula's Choice Resist Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer SPF 50 versus Paula's Choice Resist Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30. This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50. This mineral sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~97% of UVB at SPF 30. Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate Ethylhexyl Salicylate Octocrylene Water Glycerin Silica 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Ascorbyl Glucoside Dimethicone Propanediol Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Acetyl Zingerone Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract Hydrogenated Lecithin Ricinus Communis Seed Oil Sodium Hydroxide Tocopherol Xanthan Gum Ethylhexylglycerin Laureth-4 Phenoxyethanol Potassium Sorbate Sodium Benzoate Titanium Dioxide Iron Oxides Entada Phaseoloides Bark/Seed Extract Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Water, Glycerin, Silica, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Acetyl Zingerone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-4, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Entada Phaseoloides Bark/Seed Extract Cyclopentasiloxane Zinc Oxide PEG-12 Dimethicone PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone Lauroyl Lysine Sodium Chloride Trihydroxystearin Dimethicone Crosspolymer Resveratrol Quercetin Epigallocatechin Gallate Tocopheryl Acetate Adenosine Bisabolol Salix Nigra Bark Extract Punica Granatum Extract Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Polysorbate 80 Hydrated Silica Triethoxycaprylylsilane C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate Caprylyl Glycol Hexylene Glycol Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Chloride, Trihydroxystearin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Resveratrol, Quercetin, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Adenosine, Bisabolol, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Polysorbate 80, Hydrated Silica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Iron Oxides, Phenoxyethanol These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that: The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure. Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations. Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!). It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome. On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive. Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10). You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own. Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU. Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages. Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C. THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!). Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface. Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun. Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin. A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oil