Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Moisturizer.

Moisturizers

About this product

A creamy vitamin C moisturizer from Paula's Choice, designed to brighten dull skin, even out skin tone and hydrate.

Full ingredients

Water⁠, Dicaprylyl Carbonate⁠, 3-O Ethyl Ascorbic Acid⁠, Dimethicone⁠, Butylene Glycol⁠, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate⁠, Ascorbyl Glucoside⁠, Squalane⁠, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer⁠, Acetyl SH Hexapeptide 5 Amide Acetate⁠, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Seed Oil ⁠, Hydrogenated Lecithin⁠, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter⁠, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine⁠, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate⁠, Sodium Hyaluronate⁠, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract⁠, Propanediol⁠, Jojoba Esters⁠, Tocopherol⁠, Acetyl Zingerone⁠, Cetyl Palmitate⁠, Caprylyl Glycol⁠, Cetyl Alcohol⁠, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax⁠, Sodium Hydroxide⁠, Sorbitan Olivate⁠, Sorbitan Palmitate⁠, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract⁠, Ethylhexylglycerin⁠, Hexylene Glycol⁠, Sodium Phytate⁠, Polysorbate 60⁠, Sorbitan Isostearate⁠, Lecithin⁠, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract⁠, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil⁠, Lysolecithin⁠

Guru Score

77%

Yay

6 experts · Moderate agreement

What the gurus are saying

Brightening is the finding these gurus keep returning to, with the vitamin C helping dull or uneven skin look more lively and glowy, though results take a while, especially for hyperpigmentation. That creamy texture is nourishing without feeling heavy, a good fit for anyone with dry skin. However, not every take was glowing, since a dissenting view says other products brighten and moisturize just as well or better.

Synthesized from 6 expert reviews · most recent take December 2024

What they liked

Holds well under makeup without pilling
Stabilized vitamin C forms that brighten and protect

What they flagged

Pricey for the amount of product

Type

MoisturizersCream

Key actives

Vitamin C Hyaluronic acidVitamin EPeptides Squalane

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Sephora → Amazon → Google →

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Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

What the experts use it for.

The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.

Dull skin3 experts

“This one has glutathione in there, which is great for brightening skin.”

No BS Beauty, watch at 2:17

Rough or uneven texture1 expert

“It helps over time with improving skin texture and skin tone, so really great for an anti-aging routine.”

Dr. Jenny Liu, watch at 11:13

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

Sincerely Miss Ash

196k subs

✓Nay

"This is quite moisturizing and also it does help to brighten up the skin as well. It is very nourishing on the skin, but I didn't exactly love it. There are other products that I feel work just as good if not better in terms of brightening and moisturizing. Because there are so many other options in the market that I have used that performed better than this, I am not going to repurchase this at this time."

Tea with MD

115k subs

✓Yay

"This is a staple. It has 5% vitamin C in the form of 30 ethyl ascorbate and escoro glucoside, and it also has hexapeptide 5 which helps with the firmness of the skin. I like this form of vitamin C because it is a true moisturizer, so if you have really dry skin or if you're struggling with just feeling really dry, especially during fall winter, this is a wonderful choice for you. This is more of a [...] gel moisturizer, and it's really great for people who struggle with dryness."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

✓Yay

"The Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Moisturizer, this one's $45. Paula's Choice uses vitamin C derivatives. This one has glutathione in there, which is great for brightening skin. It also uses tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and this [...] one uses 3-O ethyl ascorbic acid. It's got peptide in there, it's got watermelon oil, which is a great antioxidant and protecting ingredient, and then it's also got polyglutamic acid. It's a really nice moisturizer."

Dr. Jenny Liu

324k subs

✓Yay

"I really have loved using this year's from Paula's Choice, their C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Moisturizer, that contains lipid soluble vitamin C, THD ascorbyl along with hexapeptide that really works synergistically to target human skin texture and skin tone. This creamy formula is hydrating and nourishing but not heavy."

All 2 takes from Dr. Jenny Liu

Sephora Savings Event 2023 Dermatologist Top Picks | Dr Jenny Liu

"It helps over time with improving skin texture and skin tone, so really great for an anti-aging routine. Texture-wise it's definitely nourishing and creamy but not heavy, and once it's absorbed it feels really lightweight. Even though on the bottle it suggests using it for PM, I actually love this in the morning and at night. It's a little pricey but I think it's worth the splurge. Just all around a great moisturizer if you're looking to help improve your skin radiance and improve dullness."

Dermatologist's Favorite Sephora Skincare & Haircare Products | Dr. Jenny Liu

The Budget Dermatologist

725k subs

✓Yay

"This is my favorite product lately. It has five percent stabilized vitamin C in it that is going to brighten your skin so it doesn't look dull or lackluster. I use this in the morning because this can also prevent that free radical damage from the sun, so pair this with an SPF for maximum anti-aging and protection."

Kelly Driscoll

91k subs

✓Yay

"It has a really nice hydrating, plump and kind of airy feel to it. The benefits on this are really great at brightening if you really just want to brighten up a dull or an uneven complexion. These products will really make your skin and complexion look more lively, more vibrant, more glowy from like lit from within. [...] It will take definitely longer, especially if you're going to use the moisturizer to target hyperpigmentation."

What the evidence says.

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

Vitamin C

Topical vitamin C is an antioxidant with reasonable evidence for dullness and uneven tone. It breaks down in light and air, so how a product is formulated and packaged matters as much as the percentage on the front.

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

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Moisturizer?

A creamy vitamin C moisturizer from Paula's Choice, designed to brighten dull skin, even out skin tone and hydrate.

Is Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Moisturizer worth it?

Mostly yes. 5 of the 6 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 77%.

What is Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Moisturizer's Guru Score?

Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Moisturizer holds a Guru Score of 77%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 6 expert reviewers we have collected.

What is Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Moisturizer good for, according to the experts?

In their reviews, experts say Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Moisturizer is good for dull skin (3 experts) and rough or uneven texture (1 expert).

Is Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Moisturizer good for dull skin?

3 experts who reviewed Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Moisturizer say it is. No BS Beauty put it this way: “This one has glutathione in there, which is great for brightening skin.”