Paula's Choice
Anti-Aging Clear Skin HydratorA face moisturizer built around Vitamin C derivative and Vitamin C, for barrier repair and smoothing.
A face moisturizer built around Niacinamide and Ceramide, for barrier repair and hydration.
Brand price
USD 42.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
Not recorded · brand's site
At a Glance
They come out differently on Pore-clogger-free and Oil-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.
Key Ingredients
Fatty alcohol2
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Ceramide3
Skin-identical lipids that hold the barrier together.
Benefits
Hydrating4
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Barrier Repair10
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
Hydrating9
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair16
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Cholesterol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Octyldodecanol, Phytosphingosine, Tocopherol
Smoothing9
Refines rough or uneven texture.
Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Cholesterol, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Octyldodecanol
Concerns
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis6
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, PEG-100 Stearate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris3
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis14
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Octyldodecanol, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sorbitan Tristearate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris2
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Antioxidant
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin C derivative (stable)
- Acne Fighting
- Antioxidant
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
Emollient
2 / 2
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Niacinamide (in both products)
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Cetearyl Alcohol (in both products)
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Skin Conditioning
- Plant oils and butters (coconut, olive, shea)
- Plant or mineral oil
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- May Worsen Oily Skin
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Cetearyl Alcohol (in both products)
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Niacinamide (in both products)
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Glyceryl Stearate (in both products)
Emollient
1 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
PEG-100 Stearate (in both products)
Cleansing
0 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion Stabilising
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glycerin →Niacinamide
Smoothing
Niacinamide is niacinamide.
Learn more about Niacinamide →Dimethicone
Antifoaming, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Skin Protecting
Dimethicone is a silicone.
Learn more about Dimethicone →Cetearyl Alcohol
Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Emollient, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Controlling
Cetearyl Alcohol isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol →Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient, Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate →PEG-100 Stearate
Cleansing
PEG-100 Stearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-100 Stearate →Xanthan Gum
Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Xanthan gum
Learn more about Xanthan Gum →Citric Acid
Buffering, Chelating, Fragrance
Citric Acid is an AHA.
Learn more about Citric Acid →Phenoxyethanol
Antimicrobial, Preservative
Phenoxyethanol is the aromatic ether alcohol that conforms to the formula:
Learn more about Phenoxyethanol →
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