Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Evens skin tone
- Moisturizing
- Anti-aging
- Anti-oxidation
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: medium
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 3
Key actives
Product Summary
Based on the ingredients included, "Paula's choice - C5 Super Boost Moisturizer" works well for moisturizing the skin. This moisturizer uses a good combo of humectants and emollients. These both types of ingredients are essentials for improving the skin hydration and keeping the skin barrier healthy. Panthenol, polyglutamic acid, sodium hyaluronate, butylene glycol and caprylyl glycol in this product (humectants) attract water molecules to the upper layer of the skin (the water comes from the outside air or from the deeper layers of the skin if the air is dry). Beta-sitosterol, glycine soja oil, helianthus annuus extract, jojoba esters and theobroma cacao seed butter in this product help decrease the water evoporation from the skin, so that it stays hydrated for longer. These ingredients also soften the skin and take away the feeling of tightness and dryness.
Ingredient callouts
- This formulation also includes panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) at about 1.20% - 1.40% concentration. In this concentration, panthenol works effectively to improve the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.
Irritation risk
This moisturizer contains actives that can be irritating. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails from 38.25$ up to 45.00$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Anti-oxidation
This product contains antioxidants (acetyl zingerone) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
The following ingredients - 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, ascorbyl glucoside, squalene also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.
An active compound sourced from ginger root. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It might be able to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improve the skin tone. In small concentrations, used as a chelating agent and helps preserve stability of product formulations.
An oil that is naturally part of skin sebum that helps to soften its upper layer, reduce water loss and neutralize free radicals. It might be comedogenic. Avoid applying large concentrations (or pure oil) before sun exposure as oxidized squalene can clog pores and lead to skin irritation. Today squalene is mostly derived from vegetable oils or synthetized by yeast
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Can help neutralize free radicals and help reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Has a potential to boost collagen production, nutralise free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Can be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
Visibly improve the skin's firmness and bounce with the Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Moisturiser, a skincare product that works to boost hydration with a blend of powerful ingredients while helping to minimise the signs of free-radical damage.
Source: SpaceNK
This product contains acetyl zingerone, ascorbyl glucoside. These ingredients might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Has a potential to boost collagen production, nutralise free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
An active compound sourced from ginger root. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin. It might be able to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improve the skin tone. In small concentrations, used as a chelating agent and helps preserve stability of product formulations.
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Can help neutralize free radicals and help reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
The hero ingredient in this innovative moisturizer is vitamin C, a research-supported antioxidant that does so much more than brighten tone.
Source: Paula's Choice US
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, ascorbyl glucoside.
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Can help neutralize free radicals and help reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Has a potential to boost collagen production, nutralise free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
C5 Super Boost Moisturizer
Source: From product name
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
polyglutamic acid, sodium hyaluronate.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, squalane.
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin.
An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.
An oil that is naturally part of skin sebum that helps to soften its upper layer, reduce water loss and neutralize free radicals. It might be comedogenic. Avoid applying large concentrations (or pure oil) before sun exposure as oxidized squalene can clog pores and lead to skin irritation. Today squalene is mostly derived from vegetable oils or synthetized by yeast
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
A product of bacterial fermentation. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
A phytosterol that can support skin's barrier function and help the skin stay hydrated
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
Lecithin derivative. It helps oil and water mix together and can enhance penetration of other ingredients. It helps soften the upper layer of the skin
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps oil and water mix together while softening the upper layer of the skin
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Used mostly for creating emulsions - helping oil and water mix together. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Anti-aging | |
| Moisturizing | |
| Evens skin tone |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 75/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Paula's choice C5 Super Boost Moisturizer | Current | $45.00 | |
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Key Actives
Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
All ingredients
Ingredient list view
Water, Carbon, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, Dimethicone, Butylene glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 distearate, Ascorbyl glucoside, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Squalane, Citrullus lanatus seed oil, Hydrogenated lecithin, Theobroma cacao seed extract, Polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate, Hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine, Pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium hyaluronate, Oryza sativa bran extract, Propanediol, Jojoba esters, Tocopherol, Acetyl zingerone, Caprylyl glycol, Cetyl alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 beeswax, Helianthus annuus seed extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene glycol, Acetyl sh-hexapeptide-5 amide acetate, Sodium phytate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan isostearate, Lecithin, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract, Glycine soja oil, Lysolecithin, Bacillus ferment, Citric acid, Polyglutamic acid, Beta-sitosterol, Phytic acid, Squalene, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate, Sodium hydroxide
- Antioxidant Ability and Stability Studies of 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a Cosmetic Tyrosinase Inhibitor
- Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medications
- Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyol
- The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health
- Stability, transdermal penetration, and cutaneous effects of ascorbic acid and its derivatives
- Safety Assessment of Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate as Used in Cosmetics
- Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging
- Hyaluronan (Hyaluronic Acid): a natural moisturizer for skin care
- Vitamin E in dermatology
- Vitamin E and Skin Health
- Randomized double-blind vehicle controlled study of the effects of topical acetyl zingerone on photoaging
- Safety Assessment of Polyglyceryl Fatty Acid Esters as Used in Cosmetics
- Allergic contact dermatitis induced by rosemary leaf extract in a cleansing gel
- Safety Assessment of Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics
- Rosmarinus officinalis Extract Suppresses Propionibacterium acnes–Induced Inflammatory Responses
- γ‐Polyglutamic Acid Produced by Bacillus Subtilis (Natto): Structural Characteristics, Chemical Properties and Biological Functionalities
- Natural and edible biopolymer poly‐γ‐glutamic acid: synthesis, production, and applications
- Safety Assessment of Phytosterols as Used in Cosmetics
- The Ameliorative Effect of β-sitosterol on DNCB-induced Atopic Dermatitis in Mice
- Cosmetic and dermatologic use of alpha hydroxy acids
- Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy and Tolerability of Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Mandelic Acid, and Phytic Acid Combination Peels in Melasma
- Squalene and its potential clinical uses
- Biological and Pharmacological Activities of Squalene and Related Compounds: Potential Uses in Cosmetic Dermatology
- Enhanced comedo formation in rabbit ear skin by squalene and oleic acid peroxides