Over the years, I have used and still use a lot of Paula’s Choice skincare products. But when I received the new Paula’s Choice Hydration-5% Vitamin C duo, I was initially a little confused.
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You see, I love Paula’s Choice Boosters:
- Peptide Booster
- 10% Niacinamide Booster
- 15% Vitamin C Booster.
Since I already use Paula’s Choice 15% Vitamin C Booster, I wondered why did they decrease the percent vitamin C in the new Moisturizer and Eye Cream? So I went to the Paula’s Choice website and learned much more about the product duo and their ingredients and benefits.
Forms of Vitamin C
Most vitamin C skincare products use l-ascorbic acid as their hero ingredient. However, the European Union that has more stringent safety requirements than the U.S., doesn’t approve l-ascorbic acid skincare products.
Plus many people including those with rosacea, sensitive skin and acne often find products with l-ascorbic acid to be irritating to their skin.
In response, Paula’s Choice’s new moisturizer and eye cream contain two highly stable forms of vitamin C:
- 3-O ethyl ascorbic acid (3%)
- ascorbyl glucoside (2%).
Here’s the rationale for Paula’s Choice choosing these two ingredients:
“The 3-O form is both water- and oil-soluble, while ascorbyl glucoside is water-soluble. Together, they deliver multi-level vitamin C benefits. Skin converts 3-O ethyl ascorbic acid and ascorbyl glucoside to L-ascorbic acid, the most research-backed form of vitamin C. L-ascorbic acid helps fight off free radicals and external stressors, lessening the aging impact of both.”
C5 Super Boost Moisturizer
What’s In It and What Does It Do?
Paula’s Choice new C5 Super Boost Moisturizer is a multitasker: not only does it make skin brighter, it also hydrates, firms and strengthens the skin barrier. Especially as we move into autumn and winter, using an anti-aging product that strengthens the skin barrier while it hydrates is a good thing.
The key ingredients in the moisturizer are:
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3-O Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Glucoside: the two vitamin C ingredients that combine to provide protection against environmental aggressors while brightening skin and evening out skin tone
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Squalane: plant-derived emollient and antioxidant prevents moisture loss, restores skin’s suppleness, strengthens skin’s barrier, and provides antioxidant support
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Acetyl sh Hexapeptide 5 Amide Acetate: known as Hexapeptide 5, used topically, this peptide promotes a firmer look and feel
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Acetyl Zingerone: derived from ginger, this antioxidant prevents and repairs past damage from environmental aggressors
More good news is that C5 Super Boost Moisturizer can be used in conjunction with other vitamin C products like Paula’s Choice 15% Vitamin C Boost as well as with other hero ingredients like retinol or niacinamide!
What’s It Like to Use It?
I’ve been really enjoying using off-white, fragrance-free C5 Super Boost Moisturizer especially during the summer because it’s a gel-cream, my favorite warmer weather form of moisturizer. I’ll be curious to see how it holds up hydration-wise during the cold New England winter, if there’s any left by then, lol. BTW, this product contains three preservatives that are safe for skin. I think many preservatives in skincare products got a bad wrap. If you don’t use up your skincare products quickly, having safe preservatives is a bonus!
Using it makes my skin feel instantly plumped and velvety smooth (I assume that the dimethicone is a key reason for the smoothness).
Finally, I love the pump bottle it comes in.
If you’re looking for a moisturizer with anti-aging benefits, check out C5 Super Boost Moisturizer. It’s sold exclusively on the Paula’s Choice website and at Sephora. It’s priced at $45 for 1.7 fl. oz./50 ml, and it comes in a 15 ml/0.5 fl. oz. mini size for $18 only on the Paula’s Choice website.
C5 Super Boost Eye Cream
The fragrance-free C5 Super Boost Eye Cream is quite similar to the Moisturizer in terms of its benefits and vitamin C ingredients.
Its key ingredients are:
- Vitamin C 5%: Brightens the look of under-eye dullness and smooths visible fine lines
- Zerumbone: Targets the root causes of visible under-eye discoloration
- Peptides: Visibly firm around the eyes and restore youthful-looking bounce
The pale yellow gel-cream is lighter weight than the moisturizer since it is applied on the thinner skin of the eye area.
Though it can be applied on both the under eye area as well as on the orbital bone, I have primarily been using it under my eyes. While I don’t have serious dark circles, I am curious to see if this eye cream with new-to-me ingredient Zerumbone can fade the slightly darker area under my eyes that I always thought was due to thinner skin there. I probably should try this on my orbital bone to see if the peptides can help firm that area, but I have been nervous to do that since I apply eye cream on my dry lids and I am not sure if applying even these gentler vitamin C ingredients to my very dry eyelids would be a good idea.
Like the Moisturizer, it is sold exclusively on the Paula’s Choice website and at Sephora. In addition, it comes in a full size 0.5 fl. oz./15 ml pump bottle for $39. On the website, it’s available in a travel size tube that holds 0.17 fl. oz./5 ml for $16.
Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Triheptanoin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Arachidyl Alcohol, C13-16 Isoalkane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bacillus Ferment, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sh-Polypeptide-121, Behenyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Arachidyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hyaluronic Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Sulfite, Zerumbone, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Phenoxyethanol.
Good for PC for keeping things fragrance free. I like that they look for solutions for all types of skin.
I am such a huge fan of Vitamin C based skincare products, and I think that I would really enjoy these. Paula’s Choice makes some truly fantastic products!
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