Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

✓Yay

"I enjoy Paula's Choice retinols. Right now, you can get this here for $16.99. That's not too bad."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

✓Yay

"I'd still recommend all of these."

All 2 takes from No BS Beauty

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"This one's very spreadable, probably the most spreadable one of all of them. It's a little more shiny than the others. It feels nice. This one also has some peptides in it."

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"I'd still recommend all of these."

Alexandra Anele

1.44M subs

✓Yay

"I also really like the Paula's Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer which is with tripeptides and ceramides, really great and just like a little bit more accessible."

James Welsh

1.58M subs

✓Mixed

"It was during this time that they actually launched a lot of their more popular products including the resist a barrier repair moisturizer"

Doctorly

3.58M subs

✓Yay

"This is their barrier repair Advanced moisturizer and this has many different types of ceramides in it and also some peptides in it so incorporating some of that new peptide technology. It's kind of like a midweight cream, I would describe it as going a little bit more towards a heavier cream. For somebody who has more of that combination skin, more of that dry skin, this is going to be like my preferred range of moisturizer from them. I just really like something that's a little bit heavier, something that when I wake up, my skin feels hydrated. This to me is really just a wonderful thicker moisturizer. Paula's Choice is fragrance free because they have like a pretty stringent ingredient list. I think a lot of times a moisturizer that also has irritating ingredients is completely counteracting the whole purpose of protecting and repairing a skin barrier."

Sincerely Miss Ash

195k subs

✓Yay

"I'm going to go in with the Paula's Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer and this is really nice for those that are looking for that lightweight formulation that is still extremely moisturizing and repairing to the skin. This formula also contains peptides but there's ceramides in here to keep that skin barrier nice and repaired and peptides pair up nicely with tretinoin or let's say with a retinol so I do like to still have a moisturizer that contains some anti-aging properties in there just to give my skin that added boost but this is very very moisturizing."

All 2 takes from Sincerely Miss Ash

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"I'm going to go in with the Paula's Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer and this is really nice for those that are looking for that lightweight formulation that is still extremely moisturizing and repairing to the skin. This formula also contains peptides but there's ceramides in here to keep that skin barrier nice and repaired and peptides pair up nicely with tretinoin or let's say with a retinol so I do like to still have a moisturizer that contains some anti-aging properties in there just to give my skin that added boost but this is very very moisturizing."

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"This has shea butter and there are several different types of ceramides in here which can help prevent transepidermal water loss. Ceramides can help to keep moisture in the skin but it can also help to repair and strengthen your skin barrier at the same time, and shea butter is extremely moisturizing. So this really is lovely. One pump will give me that amount, but if my skin was super dry I would probably put two pumps. It spreads really nice and it's also quite lightweight but very very moisturizing. I feel like you will really love this especially if you are looking for something that keeps your skin comfortable, something that's rich but also lightweight."

The Budget Dermatologist

723k subs

✓Yay

"This one is by Paula's Choice. It has five skin-identical ceramides in it. This is just a really nice lightweight moisturizer. It has hyaluronic acid, cholesterol, glycerin, other oils containing fatty acids, and peptides. So I would consider this one to be kind of an all-in-one, well-rounded barrier repair product."

All 2 takes from The Budget Dermatologist

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"This Paula's Choice one also has ceramides and peptides in it and it comes in this pump top container too. The difference I would say between these two is that this Paula's Choice one is just a little bit lighter on the skin whereas the Drunk Elephant one is a little bit heavier but very very minimally. They both have shea butter in it and they are both very hydrating and repairing on the skin. This one by Paula's Choice is $38 so almost half the price."

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"This one is by Paula's Choice. It has five skin-identical ceramides in it. This is just a really nice lightweight moisturizer. It has hyaluronic acid, cholesterol, glycerin, other oils containing fatty acids, and peptides. So I would consider this one to be kind of an all-in-one, well-rounded barrier repair product."

Cassandra Bankson

2.45M subs

✓Yay

"Paula's Choice barrier repair moisturizer with retinol is fantastic if you have dry skin or a damaged skin barrier. For example, if you use something like the prescription retinoic acid and it burned your freaking face off, this is a really good way to get a retinoid in that doesn't overly burn the face. This takes a lot of the guesswork out. It has ceramides, shea butter, and green tea so if you have a damaged skin barrier your skin will love this. This is really good for more sensitive skin types and more dry skin types."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Urea

Urea both holds water in the skin and gently loosens dead surface cells. At higher strengths it has good evidence for very dry or thickened skin.

Source: DermNet

Ceramides

Ceramides are part of the skin's own barrier, and moisturisers built around them have evidence for holding water in and settling the tightness and flaking that come with a damaged barrier.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol?

A fragrance-free moisturizer cream with ceramides, peptides, and shea butter designed to hydrate and repair the skin barrier.

Is Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol worth it?

Mostly yes. 7 of the 8 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 81%.

What is Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol's Guru Score?

Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol holds a Guru Score of 81%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 8 expert reviewers we have collected.