"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.

This product contains ingredients that could be beneficial, but their concentrations are too low in this formulation: myristyl myristate, oatmeal extract and vitamin e

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.

What can the product work for?

Does not work for

Anti-aging

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

simmondsia chinensis seed oil 4.4% - 5.3%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

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.

dimethicone 0.5% - 0.75%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

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

glycerin 2.3% - 2.8%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

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.

decarboxy carnosine hcl 0.25% - 0.45%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: MEDIUM

Might be able to protect the skin from free radicals, but further evidence of effectiveness is needed

tocopherol 0.5% - 0.75%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Insufficient!

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

avena sativa kernel extract 0.35% - 0.65%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Insufficient!

An effective moisturizing and skin barrier repair ingredient. Helps calm down inflammation and has some anti-oxidant properties

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.

decarboxy carnosine hcl 0.25% - 0.45%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: LOW

Might be able to protect the skin from free radicals, but further evidence of effectiveness is needed

magnesium ascorbyl phosphate 0.45% - 0.65%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Insufficient!

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

tocopherol 0.5% - 0.75%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Insufficient!

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

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Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

tocopherol 0.5% - 0.75%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Anti-oxidation, Moisturizing, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-aging

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

linolenic acid 0.35% - 0.6%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing, Cleansing, Anti-inflammatory, Reduces irritation

An emollient that helps soften the skin and calm down inflammation

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Potential irritants

simmondsia chinensis seed oil 4.4% - 5.3%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing

tridecyl trimellitate 1.2% - 1.4%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing

Used to create a thicker product consistency and soften the upper layer of the skin

Comodogenic ingredients

cetearyl alcohol 1.6% - 1.9%

Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium

Works for: Cleansing, Moisturizing

A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture

myristyl myristate 0.3% - 0.55%

Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High

Works for: Moisturizing

An emollient. Is not recommended for acne-prone skin as it can be comedogenic

All ingredients

water 45% - 55%

Irritation risk:

Plain old water

ethylhexyl stearate 4.8% - 5.8%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

simmondsia chinensis seed oil 4.4% - 5.3%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing

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

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Price
WIMJ similarity score		47%	45%	43%	43%	43%	41%	41%	41%	40%	40%
Key ingredients	petrolatum linoleic acid +12 more	Common: ceramide np linoleic acid +5 more Other: hexapeptide-2 tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate +6 more	Common: ceramide np linoleic acid +4 more Other: ethyl linoleate jojoba esters +3 more	Common: petrolatum ceramide np +2 more Other: avena sativa kernel extract butyrospermum parkii butter +2 more	Common: petrolatum ceramide np +2 more Other: paraffinum liquidum panthenol +1 more	Common: petrolatum ceramide np +2 more Other: phytosphingosine helianthus annuus seed oil unsaponifiables +3 more	Common: ceramide np linoleic acid +6 more Other: niacinamide tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate +13 more	Common: linoleic acid ceramide np +4 more Other: retinol palmitoyl dipeptide-5 diaminobutyroyl hydroxythreonine +13 more	Common: petrolatum ceramide np +2 more Other: niacinamide madecassoside +17 more	Common: linoleic acid ceramide np +3 more Other: phytosphingosine ceramide ap +8 more	Common: ceramide np petrolatum +3 more Other: ceramide ap ceramide eop +3 more
Irritancy	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY MEDIUM
Potential Irritants	sorbic acid Has skin benefit? chlorphenesin Has skin benefit? +13 more	ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? hexylene glycol Has skin benefit? +7 more	ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? sorbitan palmitate Has skin benefit? +7 more	benzyl alcohol Has skin benefit? sea salt Has skin benefit? +2 more	benzalkonium chloride Has skin benefit? steareth-20 Has skin benefit? +1 more	citric acid Has skin benefit? 1,2-hexanediol Has skin benefit? +1 more	glycolic acid Has skin benefit? ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? +8 more	anogeissus leiocarpus bark extract Has skin benefit? retinol Has skin benefit? +11 more	citrus grandis peel oil Has skin benefit? disodium edta Has skin benefit? +16 more	ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? sodium citrate Has skin benefit? +6 more	eucalyptus globulus leaf extract Has skin benefit? citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil Has skin benefit? +5 more
All ingredients	water Has skin benefit? ethylhexyl stearate Has skin benefit? +37 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +31 more	water Has skin benefit? squalane Has skin benefit? +24 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +14 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +15 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +22 more	water Has skin benefit? sodium glycolate Has skin benefit? +50 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +55 more	water Has skin benefit? butylene glycol Has skin benefit? +43 more	water Has skin benefit? dimethicone Has skin benefit? +40 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +25 more

PRODUCT REVIEW

Paula's choice Calm Restoring Moisturizer normal to dry skin Full size

Works for:

Doesn't work for:

Can it cause trouble?

Key actives

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Product summary

Ingredient callouts

Irritation risk

Price

What can the product work for?

Works for

Does not work for

Moisturizing

What does the product description say?

Anti-oxidation

Anti-aging

What does the product description say?

Honesty check

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Can it cause trouble?

Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

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Key Actives

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