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 cream built around Niacinamide, for hydration and barrier repair.
Brand price
USD 42.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 23.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

At a Glance

They come out differently on Fragrance-free, EU-allergen-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 alcohol2
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Hyaluronic acid3
Hyaluronic acid and its salts; a humectant that binds water to the skin.
Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

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
Hydrating17
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Collagen Water, Dimethicone, Glucose, Glycerin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Propanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Squalane, Stearyl Alcohol
Barrier Repair16
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-16 Alcohols, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citrus Junos Fruit Oil, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Palmitic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Stearyl Alcohol

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 Trigger Acne5
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Palmitic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Stearyl Alcohol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis15
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-16 Alcohols, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Palmitic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Stearyl Alcohol
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris5
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Palmitic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Stearyl Alcohol
May Worsen Oily Skin4
May increase shine or excess oil.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane

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
Skin Conditioning
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide (in both products)
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
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
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 →Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Butane-1,3-diol (CAS No. 107-88-0/ EC No. 203-529-7) (R)-(-)-butane-1,3-diol” (CAS No. 6290-03-5/ EC No. 228-532-0)
Learn more about Butylene Glycol →Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient, Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate →Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
6-Amino-9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-9H-purine
Learn more about Adenosine →Glucose
Humectant
Glucose
Learn more about Glucose →Xanthan Gum
Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Xanthan gum
Learn more about Xanthan Gum →
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