Paula's Choice Moisture Boost Daily Restoring Complex SPF 30 Versus ZO Skin Health Smart Tone Broad-Spectrum SPF 50

Paula's Choice Moisture Boost Daily Restoring Complex SPF 30 Versus ZO Skin Health Smart Tone Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Moisture Boost Daily Restoring Complex SPF 30 versus ZO Skin Health Smart Tone Broad-Spectrum SPF 50. This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Retinyl Palmitate to brighten dull-looking skin and hydrate skin. This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50. Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane Homosalate Ethylhexyl Salicylate Octocrylene Benzophenone-3 Water C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Butylene Glycol Vp/Eicosene Copolymer Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate Cetearyl Alcohol Dimethicone Glyceryl Stearate Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Retinyl Palmitate Tocopheryl Acetate Tocopherol Picea Abies Wood Extract Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Titanium Dioxide Bentonite Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Ethylhexylglycerin Sodium Polyacrylate Disodium EDTA Sodium Hydroxide Phenoxyethanol Chlorphenesin Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Benzophenone-3, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Picea Abies Wood Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Titanium Dioxide, Bentonite, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3% Homosalate 6.8% Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5% Octocrylene 10% Butyloctyl Salicylate Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer Dimethicone/Divinyldimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer PEG-100 Stearate Mica Polyamide-5 Steareth-21 Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Petasites Japonicus Root Extract Ascorbic Acid Caprylyl Glycol Hexylene Glycol Propylene Glycol Stearate Melanin Pentylene Glycol Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Beta-Glucan Glycerin Ethyl Linoleate Oleyl Alcohol Acrylates Crosspolymer-4 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Magnesium Stearate Panthenyl Triacetate PEG-8 Laurate Coco-Glucoside Steareth-2 Polymethyl Methacrylate Cellulose Acetate Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer Simethicone Ethyl Ferulate 1,2-Hexanediol Potassium Sorbate Ethylene Brassylate Parfum CI 77491 CI 77492 CI 77499 CI 77891 Iron Oxides Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 6.8%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, Dimethicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Dimethicone/Divinyldimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Mica, Polyamide-5, Steareth-21, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Petasites Japonicus Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Melanin, Pentylene Glycol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Beta-Glucan, Glycerin, Ethyl Linoleate, Oleyl Alcohol, Acrylates Crosspolymer-4, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Magnesium Stearate, Panthenyl Triacetate, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-8 Laurate, Coco-Glucoside, Steareth-2, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Cellulose Acetate, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Simethicone, Disod These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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. Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons: Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients. Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness. Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier. Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient. It plays several roles in a formula: Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products. Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people. However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers. Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy. Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans. Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients. This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize. A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne