Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Versus CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Versus CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 versus CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25. This oil-control day moisturizer is formulated around Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to balance excess oil and soften the look of wrinkles. This barrier-repair day moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. Water Homosalate Butylene Glycol Benzophenone-3 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane Silica Octocrylene Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate Cetyl Dimethicone Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder Ascorbyl Palmitate Phospholipids Superoxide Dismutase Adenosine Tocopherol Bisabolol Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Panthenol Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract Salix Alba Bark Extract Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Titanium Dioxide Sodium Hydroxide Steareth-21 Steareth-2 Polysorbate 20 Disodium EDTA Phenoxyethanol Sorbic Acid Water, Homosalate, Butylene Glycol, Benzophenone-3, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Silica, Octocrylene, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Phospholipids, Superoxide Dismutase, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Panthenol, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid Glycerin Ethylhexyl Salicylate Niacinamide Dimethicone Cetearyl Alcohol PEG-100 Stearate Glyceryl Stearate Stearic Acid Behentrimonium Methosulfate Caprylyl Glycol Palmitic Acid Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate Xanthan Gum Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Myristic Acid Sodium Hyaluronate Ceramide NP Ceramide AP Phytosphingosine Cholesterol Carbomer Ethylhexylglycerin Ceramide EOP Water, Homosalate, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Niacinamide, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Stearic Acid, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Caprylyl Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide EOP Be the first to review These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate is a synthetic powder used as an absorbent, thickener, and anti-caking agent. As an absorbent, it is great at mattifying skin by soaking up the oil. This is why you'll find it in a range of products from makeup to moisturizers. This ingredient is considered a modified starch. Starch can also be found naturally in plants. One study from 1991 found that 5% of this ingredient enhanced titanium dioxide SPF by as much as 40%. The study found 1% titanium dioxide had a 5.6 SPF and adding 5% of aluminum starch octenylsuccinate boosted it to an SPF of 8.1 Although “aluminum” in an ingredient name can raise red flags for some consumers, the form and usage context matter significantly. For typical topical applications, there is no substantial evidence of health risks - such as cancer, neurotoxicity, or systemic “aluminum overload.” 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. Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air. This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with: On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it. One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin). Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption. You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%. Homosalate is an oil-soluble organic UVB filter that has been a sunscreen staple for decades. Its job is to absorb UVB rays (~295-315 nm) and protect your skin against sunburn, This is one of the more photostable organic UV filters; it holds up pretty well under UV