Paula’s Choice Resist Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 – In Depth Review and Ingredient Analysis

Wearing an SPF of minimum 15 is an absolute must at all times, for the health and youth preservation of our skin. However, with the summer months now already settled and the sun shining lower and stronger, our skincare protection must also adapt accordingly. Although, bear in mind that even if you live or your holidays are in a colder place, a higher SPF protection might also required, especially if you are at high altitude or close to snow.

If you don’t know what SPF is or why you should include some in your daily skincare check out: Everything you need to know about sunscreens and SPF

However, just upping your SPF skincare is not as easy as it sounds. If like me you also like to wear makeup, no matter how little or much, finding a high SPF product (or face sunscreen) that works well under makeup can be challenging.

After having tried a few and going through some successes and horrendous makeup failures, Paula’s Choice Resist Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 is the one that worked best for me and I’d recommend as I chemist.

To get £7.50 off your first Paula’s choice order (minimum £25 order) click here.

Let’s have a detailed look.

 

Packaging

I’ve purchased this product a few times now and it never arrived with an outer packaging.

The actual product comes in a plastic tube packaging with a nozzle. It doesn’t look particularly designed or beautiful but it’s not ugly either. Despite that, I personally like the metallic blue tube colouring and I thought that it makes it stand out.

Generally, it’s an SPF moisturiser, it doesn’t particularly need to be pretty but it looks the part.

There is a lot of writing all over the tube, both front and back which can be overwhelming. However, I’d take a tonne of information over minimal information any time and I wish that more products where as informative.

In a poetic way, you can see Paula’s character on the product itself, as she is known, like me, to write long articles that separate science from marketing myth.

 

Price

A full size, 60mL tube retails for £33 but you can also get smaller sample and travel sizes for less money. This product might sound expensive for a sunscreen but it is actually reasonable considering:

(a) it works well under makeup, keep reading below

(b) it has amazing ingredients that are more than worth the price and

(c) it’s also a good anti-ageing moisturiser and pore minimiser

 

Where can you buy this product from?

I bought mine from the Look Fantastic online store but you can also purchase it from the Paula’s Choice website, for UK users is at: www.paulaschoice.co.uk

Please note that I am not sponsored by any of them.

 

SPF protection

This product contains an amazing SPF 50, a must have for summer months or high altitude or even if you just want to greatly protect your skin on a daily basis throughout the year.

 

 

Oil control

Although this is meant to be a mattifying product, I didn’t feel that my skin was any more or less oily or shiny than normal, despite being in hot and humid environments.

This could mean that it actually helps to mattify the skin or simply that it doesn’t add or remove oils. Either way it is a good result since a lot of other face sunscreens tend to make the skin more oily and more annoyingly, this process often results in some of the makeup coming off.

 

Pore/texture/wrinkle hiding

This product claims to minimise the appearance of pores and it definitely does. This was one of the best pore minimiser products I’ve tried so far, and I’ve tried, and it’s not even a specialised pore minimiser. I am so happy with the visibly smoother appearance of my crater pores that I would wear this on a daily basis, winter or summer, just for that! The amazing ingredients and SPF protection are almost a bonus!

What is more impressive is that my pores stayed smoother and more hidden for the entire day. Usually, even if a pore minimiser works well, my pores tend to open up or reappear at some point during the day, as some of the foundation wears off, sweat and oils come through and the pores “breathe”. This product kept me smooth throughout the day for wears of 12 hours+. If you see my how I did it note below, I also wore the Too Faced Primed and Poreless Pressed Powder over it however, the latter on it’s own did not give me the all day results that the Paula’s Choice Resist Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 added.

Here’s how I managed to smooth out my crater pores, in order of application: Mattifying moisturiser (click to see the ones I recommend), Paula’s Choice Resist Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50, This Works In Transit Camera Mask, Moisturiser & Primer, then press into the skin the Too Faced Primed and Poreless Pressed Powder, Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation applied with a sponge (brush bristles can reveal your pores again), rest of makeup. No baking/powder on pores after the foundation is applied!

 

Texture

This is my least favourite thing about this product. The texture is actually fairly thin, just imagine a watery cream, but it is still more cream than water. It’s easy to apply but it just doesn’t feel as satisfying as applying a more solid-creamy product.

It’s so watery-liquidy that you can hear the liquid mix when you shake the tube. This in turn makes the product packaging of a tube with a nozzle feel a little weird.

Nevertheless, this is just a tiny detail of personal preference, the texture doesn’t change that this product works well and if nothing else, it’s very easy to apply, feels lightweight and it gets absorbed quickly without leaving any sticky residues behind.

 

 

Smell

This sunscreen moisturiser has a subtle smell that is somewhere between a sunscreen and a cream and is overall neither pleasant or unpleasant, it’s just sunscreen-like.

 

Skin compatibility

This product is suitable for combination skin, oily skin and breakout prone skin.

 

Other

Here’s what the brand says about this product:

“A weightless anti-ageing moisturiser for oily skin.

This weightless moisturiser with SPF 50 combines superior UVA/UVB protection with soothing, plant-based antioxidants that help fight the signs of ageing and protect skin from environmental damage. With a soft matte finish, this lightweight lotion leaves skin smooth, hydrated and younger-looking.

Avoid this product if you are allergic to aspirin (acetylsalicylate) as it contains salicylate derivatives (incl. Homosalate). ”

This product lasts for 12M.

 

Practicality of use – user experience

This sunscreen moisturiser is very easy to use, especially since it comes in a squeezy tube with a nozzle. The only downside if I can be picky, is the slightly more liquid nature that I’d prefer but the product works amazingly well under makeup, hides pores and doesn’t add oils. What more can you want? Aw it is also a moisturiser with anti-ageing ingredients and hides pores. There.

 

Ingredients

Amazing. That’s all I have to say in this section. Happy chemist. Full stop. Mic drop.

Let the looooong list of ingredient positives begin. Bear in mind that a lot of the ingredients play more than one role, I am mainly listing the more interesting “skin nourishing” roles while ignoring the formulation roles.

 

Ingredient positives:

1. Avobenzone – UV-A absorber.
2. Octinoxate – Primarily a UV-B absorber but can also offer some UV-A protection.
3. Octisalate – UV-B absorber.
4. Octocrylene – UV-B absorber.
5. Water (Aqua) based formulation.
6. Glycerin – Found naturally in the skin so can be seen as a skin replenishing ingredient. A skin conditioner that helps improve and smooth the appearance of skin. A good moisturiser that is almost always present in moisturising products.
7. Silica – An absorbent and anti-caking agent, good for oily skin. Can improve spreadability and help the product adhere to the skin. It can even prevent setting of the product ensuring that it is evenly pigmented.
8. Dimethicone – Can protect the skin and even act as a conditioner. It has a smooth and silky feeling and can even fill in fine lines and wrinkles temporarily to result in a more plump look. It forms a barrier on the skin that can lock in moisture.
9. Tocopherol – Refers to a class of compounds with similar activities to vitamin E. A skin conditioner, anti-oxidant and fragrance agent. Check out: Vitamins C & E – Do they work in skin care?
10. Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract – A skin conditioner, anti-flammatory and anti-oxidant.
11. Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract – A potent anti-oxidant that can help diminish skin’s environment damage.
12. Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract – This ingredient has multiple benefits including: anti-oxidant, fragrance, skin conditioner, UV light absorber, anti-microbial, astringent, skin protecting, tonic and possibly helping the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin.
13. Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract – A skin conditioner and powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. May protect against free radicals, prevent sun damage and preserve the natural moisture barrier of the skin.
14. Peucedanum Graveolens (Dill) Extract – A tonic and anti-oxidant that can improve the skin’s resiliency. It is a rich source of minerals (iron, potassium etc) and beta-carotene and can calm irritated skin. Some evidence of it being an anti-ageing agent.
15. Sambucus Nigra (Black Elderberry) Fruit Extract – An anti-oxidant and astringent that can also soothe the skin.
16. Avena Sativa (Oat) Bran Extract – A skin soother and anti-oxidant.
17. Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract – Rich in anti-oxidants (such as vitamin C) reducing sun damage and premature ageing. Can help skin heal faster.
18. Lycium Barbarum (Goji) Fruit Extract – A skin softener and anti-oxidant.
19. Hydrogenated Lecithin – A more stable form of lecithin which plays some formulation roles as well as being a skin conditioner and replenisher.
20. Titanium Dioxide – A powerful sunscreen.
21. Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate – An anti-oxidant, preservative and skin protector.
22. Xanthan Gum – A skin conditioner that can hold water and also improve the shelf life of a product.

 

Ingredient negatives:

None.

 

Ingredients that can cause irritation to some:

This is actually really case specific, as different people have different sensitivities and allergies. Just because a compound has been reported by some to cause sensitivity, it doesn’t mean you will have an issue. “Sensitizer” compounds being present is not a negative in my opinion, as this is the case with pretty much everything out there and funnily enough I’ve seen products that are targeted specifically for sensitive skin, containing some compounds that have been reported by some, or are known to be, sensitizers.

If you have sensitive skin or you are prone to skin sensitisation and unwanted reactions, try a little bit of this at the back of your hand first and consult a medical doctor if you are concerned.

Check out: What is sensitive skin? What are the causes and what can we do?

The following compounds present in this cream have been either proven or claimed by some to be sensitizers, irritants, allergens etc: Octinoxate, Octisalate (=Ethylhexyl Salicylate), Octocrylene, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol.

Avoid this product if you are allergic to aspirin (acetylsalicylate) as it contains salicylate derivatives (incl. Homosalate).

 

Full list of ingredients:

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2.0%, Octinoxate 7.50%, Octisalate 5.0%, Octocrylene 2.0%
Other Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerin (hydration/skin replenishing), Silica (absorbent agent), Dimethicone (hydration), Tocopherol (vitamin E/antioxidant), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (Matricaria), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract (antioxidants), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract (antioxidants), Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract(antioxidants), Peucedanum Graveolens (Dill) Extract (antioxidants), Sambucus Nigra (Black Elderberry) Fruit Extract (antioxidants), Avena Sativa (Oat) Bran Extract (skin-soothing), Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract(antioxidants), Lycium Barbarum (Goji) Fruit Extract(antioxidants), Hydrogenated Lecithin (skin-restoring), Titanium Dioxide (texture-enhancing/texture-enhancing), Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer (hydration), Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate (hydration), Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer (film-forming/suspending agent), Xanthan Gum (texture-enhancings), Sodium Carbomer (texture-enhancings), Benzyl Alcohol (preservative), Sodium Benzoate (stabilizer), Potassium Sorbate (stabilizer), Phenoxyethanol (preservative).

 

Verdict

This sunscreen moisturiser is very easy to use, gets absorbed quickly, hides pores well, is reasonably priced for what it is, doesn’t add oils, works well under makeup, has amazing ingredients and an SPF of 50. Need I say more? Now one of my ride or die products. I highly recommend this.

To get £7.50 off your first Paula’s choice order (minimum £25 order) click here.

 

I am not affiliated with any company or brand. These are my views and experiences.
Beauty is a very personal thing, we all have different skin, requirements and biological build which can influence things. What worked for me might not work for you and vice versa. Have you ever tried these products? Did they work for you? Let me know your experiences below!

 

 

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