Calm Restoring Moisturizer
The Paula's Choice Calm Restoring Moisturizer is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 38 ingredients (33 low-risk) rates it Excellent (98/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The Paula's Choice Calm Restoring Moisturizer is a moisturizer. Our analysis of its 38 ingredients (33 low-risk) rates it Excellent (98/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Ethylhexyl Stearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
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SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS SEED OIL
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Petrolatum
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Occlusive, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Moisturising, Uv Absorber) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate
(Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Tridecyl Trimellitate
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
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Phenyl Trimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
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Ceramide NP
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Cholesterol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
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TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning) |
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Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
(Antioxidant) |
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Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
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Polysorbate 60
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Hydrolyzed Jojoba Protein
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
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Avena sativa Kernel Extract
(Abrasive, Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
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Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant) |
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Whey Protein
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Tridecyl Stearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
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Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
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Myristyl Myristate
(Emollient, Opacifying, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Linoleic Acid
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Sufactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Linoleic Acid., Antistatic Agent, Emollient) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Linolenic Acid
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Sufactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Linolenic Acid., Antistatic Agent, Emollient, Perfuming) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Decarboxy Carnosine HCl
(Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning) |
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Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Cetearyl Glucoside
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Aminomethyl Propanol
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Benzoic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Preservative, Bulking Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Chlorphenesin
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial, Preservative) |
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Sorbic Acid
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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