Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Moisturizing
- Anti-oxidation
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-aging
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: medium
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 2
Key actives
Product Summary
"Paula's choice - Calm Restoring Moisturizer normal to dry skin Full size" is a well-rounded moisturizing product. The formulation is based on a combination of good humectants and emollients. Both are needed to increase the skin hydration level. Humectants in this product (glycerin and butylene glycol) help to increase the water content in the upper layer of the skin. (These ingredients do so by "capturing" water molecules from the outside air or from within the deeper layers of the skin). Ceramide np, cholesterol, linolenic acid, dimethicone and phenyl trimethicone 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
- As a plus, this moisturizer also contains Ceramides (ceramide np 0.70% - 1.05%). Ceramides are a type of lipids that our skin produces itself. They are a building block of the skin's barrier. Ceramides used in skincare are synthetic or extracted from plants. They work well for softening the skin surface and "patch holes" in the skin's barrier.
Irritation risk
This product does not contain known common irritants and is suitable for sensitive skin. 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 for 25.60£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
Calm Restoring Moisturizer normal to dry skin Full size
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:
glycerin, butylene glycol.
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, phenyl trimethicone.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: ceramide np
Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.
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
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
An emollient that is naturally found in skin
An emollient that helps soften the skin and calm down inflammation
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in 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.
A type of silicone that can decrease loss of moisture from the skin surface. It helps create a nice product texture
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
Used to create a thicker product consistency and soften the upper layer of the skin
A protein derived from milk. In skincare products, might help to soften the upper layer of the skin
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
Used to create a thicker product consistency and 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
An emollient. Is not recommended for acne-prone skin as it can be comedogenic
One of the most effective and the most studied occlusive ingredients that creates a protective layer on top of the skin preventing moisture loss
An excellent emollient. Helps soften the skin, restore its barrier function, and can help to calm down inflammation. It can be helpful to prevent blemishes and clogged pores
An effective moisturizing and skin barrier repair ingredient. Helps calm down inflammation and has some anti-oxidant properties
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
Anti-oxidation
This product contains antioxidants (decarboxy carnosine hcl) that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin to lessen the damage it gets from the UV light (sun). There is not enough evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin though.
Might be able to protect the skin from free radicals, but further evidence of effectiveness is needed
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
An effective moisturizing and skin barrier repair ingredient. Helps calm down inflammation and has some anti-oxidant properties
A derivative of vitamin C that is more stable, but less bioavailable than the pure form of vitamin C. It does not penetrate the skin well, but has been shown to convert to pure vitamin C once in skin. It can be helpful in stimulating collagen production and lightening the skin tone, but the required concentration is likely to be very high
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
The silky, cream formula minimises the appearance of wrinkles and leaves skin hydrated, smooth and radiant.
Source: Paula's Choice UK
This product does not contain ingredients that are able to reduce fine lines and wrinkles or help with skin elasticity, but it can improve the look of the skin temporarily through moisturization. Well-moisturized skin might also be able to repair the sun damage better.This ingredient - decarboxy carnosine hcl - could be helpful for preventing or repairing signs of aging in theory, but there is no evidence that it actually works.
This ingredient decarboxy carnosine hcl might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin and help it fight off some of the sun damage.
Might be able to protect the skin from free radicals, but further evidence of effectiveness is needed
A derivative of vitamin C that is more stable, but less bioavailable than the pure form of vitamin C. It does not penetrate the skin well, but has been shown to convert to pure vitamin C once in skin. It can be helpful in stimulating collagen production and lightening the skin tone, but the required concentration is likely to be very high
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
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Moisturizing | |
| Anti-aging |
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 Calm Restoring Moisturizer normal to dry skin Full size | Current | $25.60 | |
 PillowtalkDerm Major Fade Active Seal Moisturizer | 47% | $58.00 | |
 Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream Jumbo | 45% | $48.99 | |
 Aveeno BABY DERMEXA MOISTURIZING CREAM | 43% | $-1.00 | |
Mustela Stelatopia Emollient Balm | 43% | $20.20 | |
Neosporin Eczema Essentials Daily Moisturizing Cream | 43% | $0.00 |
Key Actives
Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
All ingredients
Ingredient list view
Water, Ethylhexyl stearate, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, Butylene glycol, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Cetearyl alcohol, Dipentaerythrityl hexacaprylate/hexacaprate, Tridecyl trimellitate, Phenyl trimethicone, Unknown, Ceramide np, Cholesterol, Tocopherol, Squalane, Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Hydrolyzed jojoba protein, Avena sativa kernel extract, Hydrogenated lecithin, Whey protein, Tridecyl stearate, Neopentyl glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, Myristyl myristate, Linoleic acid, Linolenic acid, Decarboxy carnosine hcl, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Cetearyl glucoside, Cetyl alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 beeswax, Aminomethyl propanol, Disodium edta, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic acid, Chlorphenesin, Sorbic acid
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Skin hydration is significantly increased by a cream formulated to mimic the skin’s own natural moisturizing systems
- Topically Applied Ceramides Interact with the Stratum Corneum Lipid Matrix in Compromised Ex Vivo Skin
- Vitamin E in dermatology
- Vitamin E and Skin Health
- Stability, transdermal penetration, and cutaneous effects of ascorbic acid and its derivatives
- Topical L-ascorbic acid: percutaneous absorption studies
- Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medications
- Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyol
- TOPICAL COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING WHEY PROTEINS
- Amended Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters as Used in Cosmetics
- The Permeability Barrier in Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency: Evidence for a Direct Role for Linoleic Acid in Barrier Function
- Digital image analysis of the effect of topically applied linoleic acid on acne microcomedones.
- Dynamic monitoring of glutathione redox status in UV-B irradiated reconstituted epidermis: effect of antioxidant activity on skin homeostasis
- Safety Assessment of Polyglyceryl Fatty Acid Esters as Used in Cosmetics