National Sunscreen Day for 2019 is on Monday, May 27, but since that is also Memorial Day, I thought I’d get a jump on it. Memorial Day is often considered the start of the summer season even though we have a month more spring to go. Even in chilly Massachusetts, I’m starting to spend more time outdoors and for longer periods of time, so sunscreen is a must to prevent UV damage and signs of aging like lines, wrinkles and dark spots.
Today, I’m going to talk about a few new favorite sunscreen products for my face from Paula’s Choice. For the holiday weekend, the Paula’s Choice website is having a 15% off sale. As always, Paula’s Choice is a cruelty-free, fragrance-free brand.
Paula’s Choice Lipscreen SPF 50
You may laugh, but lip balm with sunscreen is one thing that was missing from my extensive lip balm stash. I have all kinds of flavored or scented lip balms, and lip balms with a variety of hydrating ingredients, but only a couple with sunscreen. And none with a high SPF 50. I needed this!
Who knew that Paula’s Choice made a “lipscreen”? But what a great addition to their product lineup.
The Lipscreen is in their no-nonsense packaging. The tube is plain white and black.
The balm itself is fragrance-free and has no taste. It’s thick, hydrating and stays on for absolutely ages. Right now, I’m wearing Paula’s Choice Lipscreen underneath a liquid matte lipstick, and it works very well to create a hydrating barrier between the lipstick and my sensitive lips.
Paula’s Choice Lipscreen SPF 50 is a chemical sunscreen, and the tube contains 4.4 g/0.15 oz. The regular price is $10, but this weekend on paulaschoice.com it’s $8.50.
Active Ingredients:Avobenzone (3%), Homosalate (5%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene (2.5%)
Inactive Ingredients: Hydrogenated Soybean Oil (non-fragrant oil/antioxidant/emollient), Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2 (emollient), Hydrogenated Olive Oil (non-fragrant oil/antioxidant/emollient), Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate (emollient/texture-enhancing), Beeswax (texture-enhancing), Ozokerite (texture-enhancing), Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil (non-fragrant oil/emollient), Polyethylene (texture-enhancing), Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene (texture-enhancing), Microcrystalline Wax (texture-enhancing), Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter (cocoa butter/emollient/antioxidant), Silica (texture-enhancing), Tocopheryl Acetate (vitamin E/antioxidant), Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (shea butter/emollient/antioxidant), Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (olive oil/non-fragrant oil/antioxidant/emollient), Phytosterols (skin replenishing), Tocopherol (vitamin E/antioxidant), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (emollient), Copernicia Cerifera Wax (carnauba wax/texture-enhancing), Water (Aqua), Phenoxyethanol (preservative).
Paula’s Choice Smoothing Primer Serum SPF 30
Paula’s Choice Smoothing Primer Serum SPF 30 is one of those products that I would consider an almost dupe for Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30, a product I love but that is more than twice as expensive. They both are clear gels, feel the same on my skin: extremely silky smooth going on and then they disappear almost completely leaving behind a smoothed canvas for applying foundation. Now that I have discovered Paula’s Choice Primer Serum SPF 30, I won’t be buying Murad Invisiblur again. It’s that simple.
Not all of the moisturizers and foundations that I wear have sunscreen in them, so I like to use a multitasking primer with my favorite foundations Stellar Limitless Foundation (reviewed here), ColourPop No Filter Foundation (reviewed here) and even MUFE UltraHD Liquid Foundation (reviewed here).
Paula’s Choice Smoothing Primer Serum SPF 30 goes on incredibly smoothly (isododecane and dimethicone – both texture enhancers – are the first and second ingredients and there are even more texture enhancing ingredients in the formula). After a few seconds, the magic happens. The primer seems to absolutely disappear, leaving behind nothing but soft and smooth skin. Amazing!
Since Paula’s Choice is a skincare brand known for efficacy, it’s not surprising that the primer contains good for skin ingredients like antioxidants (lots of them) to attack lines and wrinkles. The sunscreen ingredients are chemical sunscreens which account for the super lightweight feel.
Paula’s Choice Smoothing Primer Serum SPF 30 contains 30 ml/1 fl. oz. The regular price is $30, but it’s on sale this weekend for $25.50.
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2%, Homosalate 4.0%, Octinoxate 6.0%, Octisalate 4.0%
Other Ingredients: Isododecane (texture enhancer), Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer (texture enhancer/skin-softening), Butyloctyl Salicylate (skin-softening),Polysilicone-11 (texture enhancer), Bisabolol (skin soothing), Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract (antioxidant), Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract (antioxidant/skin soothing), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (antioxidant/skin soothing), Retinyl Palmitate (antioxidant), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract (hydration), Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (antioxidants), Chlorella Vulgaris Extract (antioxidant), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (skin-replenishing), Physalis Angulata Extract (skin soothing), Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract (skin-restoring), Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate (antioxidant).
Paula’s Choice Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50
Although I have a few favorite moisturizers with built-in sunscreen, at times I like to wear my sunscreen-less moisturizers during the day. In those cases, I need to wear a separate sunscreen over the moisturizer, and I don’t want to add weight with a separate product. What to do?
Paula’s Choice Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid to the rescue. This sunscreen is killer! It’s part of the RESIST anti-aging line from Paula’s Choice, the product line that I use most often from the brand. Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid is a white super-lightweight lotion chemical sunscreen that comes in an easy-to-use and easy-to-carry tube.
I apply it over my moisturizer, and within seconds, it’s gone. It leaves behind soft, smooth skin with a matte finish. That’s it: no greasiness, no white cast, nothing. In fact, I can even reapply it over my foundation throughout the day without it smearing my makeup. Very nice.
Importantly, it has SPF 50. When I’m going to be outdoors for a long time, I like to up the ante to SPF 50, and there aren’t that many SPF 50 products that I like. So happy to have been introduced to this one!
Paula’s Choice Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 contains 30 ml/2 fl. oz. The regular price is $33, but this weekend it’s on sale for $28.05.
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).
In addition to being sold at paulaschoice.com, the brand is sold at Nordstrom stores and online at
- Amazon.com
- Birchbox.com
- Coolibar.com
- DermStore.com
- Nordstrom.com
- Pharmaca.com
- QVC.com
- Skincarerx.com
- Skinstore.com.
Have a sun-safe Memorial Weekend!
PC sunscreens are fantastic– I have one in my travel bag that I use all of the time. I need that SPF lip balm!
The PC Lipscreen is fab. Get it!!
I already got burned 🙈 so I’ve pulled out all my sunscreen. I’m determined no more burns for the season!
Good idea!!
I just got samples of these and so far I’m loving the SPF 50 – it’s so light – I’ve never tried anything like it!
I agree. They are so light that they are undetectable!
Great to see an emphasis on National Sunscreen Day and the importance of protecting your skin from the sun’s rays. 🙂 I’ve never actually tried Paula’s Choice but I really want to invest in some of their protecting products now.
Thanks so much for the recommendation Allison! 🙂
Laura recently posted…Why THIS Flat Iron Brush Is The Best One For You! (Our Top 5 Picks)
Some day, Laura, you must try Paula’s Choice skincare. A huge range of products for all skin types and skin issues. Plus fragrance-free and cruelty-free. Great stuff
I need to pick up the last one this weekend. I suddenly can’t find the sunscreen I was planning on using and want one without fragrance that is reliable. Of course PC fills that bill.
MarciaF recently posted…3 eye enhancements to make your eyes pop more
Paula’s Choice has so many great sunscreens. These are as light as a feather, virtually undetectable, but I also like their mineral sunscreens too
I’m pretty good about sun screen and using moisturizers daily that have sun screen in them, but one thing I fail to do is protect my lips. This is a good reminder!
I never thought about using a lip screen before!
It’s always smart to double up with a separate primer or a sunscreen even if your foundation already comes with SPF. I would love to try this one!
Glamorable recently posted…Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Sleeping Mask Review
My facial sunscreen just ran out and these sound nice! May need to look further into!
The Paula’s Choice sunscreen is definitely worth checking into. It is the lightest weight sunscreen I’ve ever tried!