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Paula's Choice
Intensive Repair Cream
A face cream built around Retinoid and Peptides, for barrier repair and smoothing.
Brand price
USD 42.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · on the brand's site
From the brand
What the brand says about this product. Our ingredient analysis follows below.
The brand recommends it for
- Dry skin
- Fine lines & wrinkles
- Dryness & dehydration
- Uneven texture
How to use
Ideal for softening and smoothing the face, neck and eye area. At night, use as the last step in your skin care routine. For daytime, follow with a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or greater.
What's inside
Ingredients List
24 trigger at least one check · 31 trigger none
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Face oil
- Plant oils and butters (coconut, olive, shea)
- Plant or mineral oil
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Oily Skin
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Key Ingredients
Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Hyaluronic acid1
Hyaluronic acid and its salts; a humectant that binds water to the skin.
Peptides2
Short amino-acid chains used as signalling actives.
Benefits
Hydrating11
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Phenyl Trimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair22
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Behenyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Niacinamide, Petrolatum, Phenyl Trimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Tribehenin, Tridecyl Stearate, Tridecyl Trimellitate
Reduces Irritation2
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Redness Reducing2
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Anti-Aging5
Softens lines and helps skin look youthful.
Adenosine, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate
Firming4
Supports elasticity and bounce.
Adenosine, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Retinol
Smoothing22
Refines rough or uneven texture.
Behenyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Niacinamide, Petrolatum, Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Lactate, Tribehenin, Tridecyl Stearate, Tridecyl Trimellitate
Brightening3
Restores radiance to dull, tired skin.
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Niacinamide
Dark Spots4
Fades dark spots for a more even tone.
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Retinol
Oil Control4
Reduces shine and excess sebum.
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Niacinamide, Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate
Pore Refining3
Makes pores look smaller and cleaner.
Anti-Pollution4
Helps defend against airborne pollutants.
Dimethicone, Glycerin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopherol
Concerns
May Trigger Acne5
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Retinyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis20
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Behenyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ceramide Ng, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Retinyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tribehenin, Tridecyl Stearate, Tridecyl Trimellitate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris5
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Retinyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
Click on any ingredient to learn more about it
Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Stearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl Stearate →Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil →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 →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 →Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Fragrance, Perfuming, Occlusive, Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is the mixed triester of glycerin and caprylic and capric acids.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride →Petrolatum
Antistatic, Emollient
Petrolatum is an oil.
Learn more about Petrolatum →Cetearyl Alcohol
Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Emollient, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Controlling
Cetearyl Alcohol isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol →Dimethicone
Antifoaming, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Skin Protecting
Dimethicone is a silicone.
Learn more about Dimethicone →Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate
Skin Conditioning, Smoothing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Decanoic acid, ester with 2,2'-[oxybis(methylene)]bis[2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol] octanoate pentanoate
Learn more about Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate →
Dupes
- Dot & Key Strawberry + Niacinamide Moisturizer63% match
- Paula's Choice Replenishing Moisturizer61% match
- Rejuran Refreshing Emulsion61% match
- K-Secret Seoul 1988 Capsule Cream: Niacinamide 5% + Yuja61% match
- First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Firming Night Cream with Colloidal Oatmeal + Niacinamide60% match