Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Moisturizer SPF 15

Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Moisturizer SPF 15: ($20.95 for 2 oz)

Positives: This is an inorganic sunscreen that also contains moderate amounts of vitamins C and E, as well as CoQ10 or ubiquinone, which have all been shown to work synergistically with the active ingredients in chemical sunscreens to provide additional sun protection. In physical sunscreens, they still does provide additional sun protection, just in ways: they don’t enhance the efficacy of the sunscreen ingredients, but still protect the skin against the UV rays that aren’t blocked or missed by the physical sunscreens.

It’s creamy, slightly heavy texture also contains high amounts of the moisturizing apricot and soybean oils, which in themselves are made up of fatty acids and antioxidants. Whether or not, they can be absorbed in the present form, is unknown and therefore, undependable. There is also moderate amounts of sodium hyaluronate, the salt form of hyaluronic acid, an excellent water-binding agent. Finally, there’s a dash of allantoin to soothe the skin, and a peptide, specifically palmitoyl oligopeptide, which has research demonstrating that it stimulates collagen and elastin production, though the evidence is far from conclusive. But hey, I’ll take a “maybe” over a “not likely” any day.

Neutrals: None!

Negatives: None!

Packaging: This is in a squeeze-tube; it used to be in a pump. Oh well.

Overall: Unfortunately, while this is a good moisturizer, it does not provide enough SPF and UVA-PF protection despite a good roster of antioxidants and peptides.

Score:

PS = [[[PIS – 0] x WIC] + [TPS x WPC]] x 100%

PS = [[7/10 x 2/3] + [3/3 x 1/3]] x 100%

PS = [14/30 + 3/9] x 100%

PS = [42/90 + 30/90] x 100%

PS = 72/90 x 100%

PS = .800 x 100%

PS = 0.0%

AS = B-

Check the Product Review Rubric for a full explanation on how I rate products.

Ingredients:

Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 3.85%, Zinc Oxide 3.12%. Other Ingredients: Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate (thickener), Isononyl Isononanoate (skin conditioning agent), Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil (non-fragrant emollient plant oil), Cyclopentasiloxane (silicone slip agent), Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate (emollient thickeners), Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol (slip agents), Cetearyl Alcohol (thickening agent), Dimethicone (silicone slip agent), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols (antioxidant fatty acid), VP/Eicosene Copolymer (film-forming agent), Superoxide Dismutase (antioxidant), Tocopheryl Acetate (vitamin E/antioxidant), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (stabilized vitamin C/antioxidant), Ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10/antioxidant), Ceramide 2, Sodium Hyaluronate (skin-identical/repairing ingredients), Allantoin, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract (anti-irritants), PEG-10 Dimethicone (silicone thickener), ), Palmitoyl Oligopeptide (cell-communicating ingredient), Tribehenin (skin conditioning agent), Hydrogenated Lecithin (cell-communicating ingredient), Polysorbate-20 (emulsifier), Glycerin (skin-identical/repairing ingredient), PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol (skin conditioning agent), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (emollient/skin-repairing ingredient), Methicone (silicone slip agent), Cucumis Sativa (Cucumber) Fruit Extract (antioxidant), Alumina, Aluminum Stearate (thickening/opacifying agents), Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Xanthan Gum (thickeners), Disodium EDTA (chelating agent), Sorbitan Stearate (emulsifier), Ethylhexylglycerin (skin-conditioning agent), Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol (preservatives)