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Resist Intensive Repair Cream

Resist Intensive Repair Cream

Product Description

Product overview

Made in USA PROFESSIONAL

Paula's Choice RESIST Intensive Repair Cream is a rich, fragrance-free night moisturizer that pairs 0.01% retinol with peptides, ceramides, hyaluronic acid and antioxidants to deeply hydrate dry, chapped skin while softening the look of fine lines and wrinkles on the face, neck and around the eyes.

0.01% Retinol Peptide Complex Ceramides + Hyaluronic Acid Fragrance-Free Cruelty-Free Reef Safe
Pregnancy
No
Fungal Acne
No
Comedogenic
2/5
Size
50ml / 1.7oz
Best Time
PM / Night
Skin Type
Normal to Very Dry
Targets
Aging & Dryness
Price
~$37
Real reviews · YouTube Shorts
Why it's different

Retinol + Peptides

0.01% retinol works alongside the Matrixyl 3000 peptide duo to visibly soften fine lines and support firmer-looking skin overnight.

01

Texture & feel

SENSORY
Consistency
Rich cream
Scent
Fragrance-free
Absorption
1–2 minutes
Finish
Nourished satin

Retinol + Peptides

0.01% retinol works alongside the Matrixyl 3000 peptide duo to visibly soften fine lines and support firmer-looking skin overnight.

Barrier-Building Ceramides

Ceramide NG plus jojoba oil and essential fatty acids reinforce the moisture barrier and reduce trans-epidermal water loss.

Antioxidant Defense

Vitamin C (Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate), Vitamin E, green tea and licorice root help neutralize free radicals and brighten dull skin.

Deep Hydration

Hyaluronic acid, glycerin and rich emollients flood dry, chapped skin with lasting moisture for a plumper, smoother feel.

02

Safety & compatibility

SAFE
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Not recommended. Contains retinol and retinyl palmitate; topical retinoids are generally avoided during pregnancy and nursing. Consult your doctor.

Fungal Acne (Malassezia)

Not safe. Contains esters, fatty acids (linoleic/linolenic), polysorbate 20 and jojoba oil that can feed malassezia yeast.

Sun Sensitivity

Retinol can increase sun sensitivity. Use at night and always apply broad-spectrum SPF 30+ the next morning.

Sensitive / Reactive Skin

Low-dose retinol is gentle, but a patch test is advised. Independent analysis rates irritation potential as medium.

Fragrance-Free

No added fragrance, essential oils or common harsh alcohols, making it suitable for fragrance-sensitive users.

Cruelty-Free & Reef Safe

Paula's Choice does not test on animals, and this formula is free of parabens and sulfates.

03

Ingredient breakdown

INGREDIENTS

Retinol 0.01%Proven

A pure form of Vitamin A and the most-researched non-prescription anti-aging active. It boosts cell turnover, supports collagen and visibly smooths lines and uneven texture over time.

  • Source: Retinol has the deepest body of clinical research of any over-the-counter anti-aging ingredient.
  • Format: Stabilized in an opaque airless pump to protect potency from light and air.
This is a low, beginner-friendly concentration. Introduce slowly (every other night) and always follow with daytime SPF.

Peptide Complex (Matrixyl 3000) BlendProven

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 and Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 are signal peptides that prompt the skin to produce more collagen and elastin for firmer, smoother-looking skin.

  • Source: The Pal-GHK and Pal-GQPR duo (Matrixyl 3000) is among the most-studied peptide pairings in modern skincare.
  • Benefit: Supports barrier repair while reducing the appearance of fine lines.

Ceramide NG Barrier lipidProven

A skin-identical lipid that acts as the "mortar between bricks," sealing the barrier so it holds water better and feels less tight, dry or irritated.

  • Source: Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in the skin barrier.
  • Pairing: Works synergistically with fatty acids and cholesterol-like sterols in the formula.

Sodium Hyaluronate HumectantProven

The salt form of hyaluronic acid. It draws water into the upper layers of skin for an immediate plumping, hydrating effect that softens the look of fine lines.

  • Source: Naturally occurring in the body; a benchmark hydrating ingredient.
  • Benefit: Lighter and more readily absorbed than high-molecular-weight HA.

Niacinamide Vitamin B3Proven

A multitasking form of Vitamin B3 that strengthens the barrier, helps fade dark spots, evens tone and improves the look of texture, all while being well tolerated by most skin types.

  • Source: Converts to NAD in the skin, a coenzyme involved in repair and energy.
  • Benefit: Calms redness and supports overall barrier resilience.

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate Vitamin CPromising

A gentle, stable derivative of Vitamin C that brightens, helps fade hyperpigmentation and provides antioxidant protection without the sting of pure ascorbic acid.

  • Source: More stable to air and light than L-ascorbic acid.
  • Pairing: Vitamin E stabilizes and boosts its antioxidant performance.

Jojoba Seed Oil EmollientPromising

A non-comedogenic plant oil whose profile is close to skin's own sebum. It softens, soothes and helps reinforce the barrier in dry, chapped skin.

  • Source: Cold-pressed from the seeds of the desert Jojoba shrub.
  • Note: Rich in fatty acids and natural Vitamin E.
Due to its fatty-acid content, jojoba oil contributes to this product not being fungal-acne (malassezia) safe.

55 ingredients

Water, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Petrolatum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Glyceryl Stearate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Retinol, Adenosine, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ceramide Ng, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Tribehenin, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tridecyl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Carbomer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid.

FREE FROM: Added fragrance/parfum, parabens, sulfates, harsh drying alcohols, common allergens.
04

Where it fits in your routine

ROUTINE
1
Cleanser
2
Toner
3
Exfoliant (AHA/BHA)
4
Serum
5
This Cream
6
SPF (AM only)

Apply as the last step of your nighttime routine to seal in everything beneath it. In the morning, always layer a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ over your moisturizer.

05

How to use

HOW TO USE
1

Cleanse & prep

At night, cleanse and apply any toners, exfoliants and serums first, allowing them to absorb.

2

Apply a small amount

Dispense one to two pumps and smooth evenly over the face, neck and décolleté, avoiding the immediate eye area until skin adjusts.

3

Start slow with retinol

If new to retinol, use every other night for the first two to three weeks, then build to nightly as tolerated.

4

Protect by day

Follow every morning with a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or higher.

06

Who is it for?

WHO

Perfect for you if:

  • You have normal to dry or very dry, chapped skin
  • You want gentle, beginner-friendly anti-aging with retinol
  • You prefer fragrance-free, rich night creams
  • You're targeting fine lines, dehydration and a weakened barrier
  • You like multi-active formulas (retinol + peptides + ceramides + antioxidants)

Consider alternatives if:

  • You are pregnant or breastfeeding (contains retinoids)
  • You have fungal acne / malassezia folliculitis
  • You have very oily skin that dislikes rich textures
  • You want a high-strength retinol (this is only 0.01%)
  • You need a fast, matte daytime moisturizer
07

Skin type compatibility

SKIN TYPES
Dry Skin
Excellent

Rich emollients, ceramides and occlusives deeply nourish dry, chapped skin and lock in moisture overnight.

Mature / Aging
Excellent

Retinol plus the peptide complex directly targets fine lines, firmness and dullness for visibly smoother skin.

Normal Skin
Good

Works well at night, though the rich texture may feel heavy for some in warm, humid weather.

Combination
Moderate

Great for drier zones; oilier areas like the T-zone may prefer a lighter moisturizer.

Oily Skin
Poor

The thick, emollient-rich cream is generally too heavy for oily skin; a gel or lotion retinol is a better match.

08

Results timeline

WEEK 12+
Day 1–3

Immediate hydration

Skin feels softer, more comfortable and less tight thanks to hyaluronic acid, glycerin and rich emollients.

82% noticed
Week 2–4

Smoother texture

Surface feels smoother and dry, flaky patches improve as the barrier strengthens and cell turnover ramps up.

68% noticed
Week 8

Softer fine lines

Fine lines look softened and skin appears more even and radiant as retinol and peptides build momentum.

54% noticed
Week 12+

Firmer, refined look

With consistent nightly use, skin looks firmer and more resilient with a visibly more even tone.

47% noticed
09

Ratings by platform

2K+ REVIEWS
Paula's Choice (Brand)
4.6
Rating
600+
Reviews
Main complaint: Airless pump can leave some product hard to dispense at the end
Amazon
★★★★½ 4.5
Rating
1,500+
Reviews
Main complaint: Texture feels too rich and heavy for oily or warm-weather use
Sephora
★★★★½ 4.4
Rating
200+
Reviews
Main complaint: Retinol percentage feels low for the price point
Dermstore
★★★★½ 4.6
Rating
100+
Reviews
Main complaint: 50ml size runs out quickly when used on face and neck
10

Pros & cons

BALANCED

Praised

  • Excellent, lasting hydration for dry, chapped skin
  • Thoughtful multi-active formula (retinol, peptides, ceramides, Vitamin C & E)
  • Truly fragrance-free and gentle enough for beginners
  • Stable, opaque airless pump protects the retinol
  • Strong value from a research-driven, cruelty-free brand

Criticized

  • Very low 0.01% retinol concentration
  • Too rich for oily or acne-prone skin
  • Not fungal-acne safe
  • Small 50ml size for face and neck use
  • Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding
11

Budget-friendly alternatives (dupes)

DUPES
80% Match
Retinol 24 Night Face Cream
$29.94
Similar Actives

Pairs retinol with niacinamide and peptides in a fragrance-free formula. Lighter, faster-absorbing texture and a slightly lower price, but less rich for very dry skin.

70% Match
Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin
$21.99
Budget Pick

Delivers ceramides, peptides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid at a great price, but contains no retinol, so it hydrates and supports the barrier without the anti-aging active.

68% Match
Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Face Cream
$26.00
Budget Pick

A stronger retinol-focused drugstore cream for wrinkles. More potent on lines but a simpler supporting cast, with added fragrance unlike this Paula's Choice formula.

12

Comparison with competitors

SIDE-BY-SIDE
Retinol 24 Night Face Cream
Key Actives Retinol + Niacinamide + Peptides
Retinol % Undisclosed
Size 50ml / 1.7oz
Texture Lightweight cream
Fragrance Fragrance-free
Best For Normal to combination skin
Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin
Key Actives Peptides + Ceramides + Niacinamide
Retinol % None
Size 48g / 1.7oz
Texture Rich cream
Fragrance Fragrance-free
Best For Dry, sensitive, barrier repair
Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Face Cream
Key Actives Retinol + Glycerin
Retinol % Undisclosed (higher)
Size 30ml / 1.0oz
Texture Medium cream
Fragrance Contains fragrance
Best For Deeper wrinkles, normal skin
13

Storage & shelf life

12 MONTHS
Period After Opening (PAO)

12 months after opening

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve retinol potency

Packaging

Opaque airless pump that limits light and air exposure

Travel Friendly

Yes, 50ml is well under the 100ml carry-on limit

13

Frequently asked questions

FAQ

No. This cream contains retinol and retinyl palmitate, which are retinoids. Topical retinoids are generally advised against during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so most experts recommend avoiding this product during that time. Always check with your doctor or midwife for personalized advice.

No. The formula includes several esters, fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acid), polysorbate 20, lecithin and jojoba oil, which can feed the malassezia yeast linked to fungal acne. If you are prone to malassezia folliculitis, this is not an ideal choice.

Yes, with care. It already contains a gentle vitamin C derivative (Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate). You can layer it after an AHA/BHA exfoliant or serum at night, applying this cream as your final step. Introduce one active at a time and reduce frequency if you notice irritation, since combining retinol with strong acids can be sensitizing.

It is formulated for normal to dry and very dry skin, and is especially suited to mature or aging skin concerned with fine lines, dehydration and a weakened barrier. Oily and acne-prone skin will likely find the rich texture too heavy.

Hydration and softer skin are usually noticeable within the first few days. Smoother texture tends to appear around weeks two to four, while retinol-driven benefits like softened fine lines and a firmer look generally develop over eight to twelve weeks of consistent nightly use.

Use it as the last step of your evening routine, after cleansing, toning, exfoliating and any serums, so it seals everything in. Because it contains retinol, apply it at night and follow with a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ each morning.

We rate it around 2 out of 5. Most of its core ingredients, including jojoba oil, glycerin and hyaluronic acid, are low on the comedogenic scale, but it is a rich cream with emollients like ethylhexyl stearate and petrolatum that can feel heavy on oily or breakout-prone skin. Drier skin types are unlikely to have issues.

It has a Period After Opening (PAO) of about 12 months. The opaque airless pump helps protect the retinol from light and air, but for best results use it within a year of opening and store it somewhere cool and dry.

— Skincarisma verdict
4.5 / 5 ★★★★★

Verdict: Paula's Choice RESIST Intensive Repair Cream is a smart, well-formulated night moisturizer that combines beginner-friendly 0.01% retinol with peptides, ceramides, hyaluronic acid and antioxidants. It excels for normal to very dry and mature skin looking for gentle anti-aging and deep hydration in a fragrance-free, cruelty-free package. The main trade-offs are a low retinol percentage, a texture too rich for oily skin, and that it is neither pregnancy-safe nor fungal-acne safe. For its target audience, it's an easy recommendation and strong value.

Product Overview

question
lightbulb What are Quick Product Notes?

Quick product notes are a great way to check if a product is free from commonly avoided ingredients by skincare enthusiasts. These preferences come about for different reasons depending on the ingredient such as personal experiences, sensitivities, health preferences & etc.

muscle Pro Tip Alert!

Just because a product is not free from a common preference does not mean it's a bad product! You can make a personal decision whether or not you want to use a product that contains these ingredients or not - click the labels of the preference to read more about them.

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Quick Product Notes

Click on icons for more information
question
lightbulb What are Notable Effects & Ingredients?

Ever used a product that promised a certain effect but provided no results? It might not have contained any notable ingredients that could have been responsible for that promised effect. It doesn't matter what the marketing or packaging «promises» it can do, if it doesn't contain anything that can help - then the likelihood of it helping is low.

We help you identify key notable ingredients that have been shown to help with effects such as acne-fighting, brightening, UV-protection, wound healing & anti-aging to help you achieve your skincare goals smarter. Please note that different notable ingredients have varying levels of research behind them, some are extremely well proven yet some have mixed research in their efficacy.

muscle Pro Tip Alert!

Just because a product doesn't contain any notable ingredients doesn't mean it's bad. And a product with notable ingredients (or even many) doesn't necessarily guarantee the efficacy of the product performing these effects either. There are other factors such as ingredient quality, concentration and formulation that will ultimately determine this.

Be smart and use this as just a starting point for you to make more informed and smarter choices and compare it with reviews to see if the product is right for you

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Notable Effects & Ingredients

anti-aging Anti-Aging from 9 ingredient(s):
Retinol Adenosine Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Ceramide Ng Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate Niacinamide Tocopherol Retinyl Palmitate
brightening Brightening from 5 ingredient(s):
Glycerin Retinol Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate Niacinamide Retinyl Palmitate
wound Promotes Wound Healing from 9 ingredient(s):
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil Glycerin Retinol Adenosine Sodium Hyaluronate Niacinamide Tocopherol Linoleic Acid Retinyl Palmitate
ache Ache-fighting from 3 ingredient(s):
Retinol Niacinamide Retinyl Palmitate
question
lightbulb What are Ingredients Related to Skin Type?

Why are some products great for some people and horrible for others? Well everyone has different skin types and different reactions to the same ingredients.

We've identified a range of ingredients that are commonly regarded as potentially good or bad for those with Dry, Oily/Acne-Prone or Sensitive skin.

muscle Pro Tip Alert!

A product that contains good or bad ingredients for your skin type doesn't always flat out make the entire product good or bad for your skin. There are other factors such as ingredient quality, concentration and formulation that will ultimately determine your skins reaction.

One of the best ways to use this section is to troubleshoot products you've had bad experiences with in the past. Check if it contains any of the marked ingredients to point out suspect ingredients to avoid in the future!

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Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Click on icons for more information
dry-skin Dry Skin
5 1
oily-skin Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
1 2
sensitive-skin Sensitive Skin
question
lightbulb What is the Ingredient Safety Breakdown?

Ingredient Safety Breakdown refers to the percentage % of ingredients in different risk categories as classified by EWG (Environment Working Group) if they are available. There are almost endless cosmetic ingredients and they are one of the few organisations globally that have assigned ratings to a lot of the more commonly used ingredients which is why we reference them.

muscle Pro Tip Alert!

EWG is seen by many to be more on the alarmist side in their assignment of health ratings resulting in rating ingredients as riskier than they actually are. We recommend using this a reference point rather than a strict guide of ingredient safety and to always do further research if into ingredients that you may find suspect.

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Ingredient Safety Breakdown

EWG Health Ratings
Low risk
Medium risk
High risk
Unknown risk
49% 7% 3% 40%

Product ingredient list

Showing first 5 of 55 ingredients
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1 Unknown
Water
Solvent, Skin Conditioning
1 B
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Skin Conditioning, Emollient
0 Unknown
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Promotes Wound Healing
Hydrating
1 A
Butylene Glycol
Solvent, Skin Conditioning, Masking, Fragrance, Humectant, Viscosity Controlling, Viscositydecreasing Agent
Hydrating
2 A
Glycerin
Solvent, Perfuming, Fragrance, Humectant, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Denaturant, Skin Conditioning
brightening Brightening
Promotes Wound Healing
Hydrating
VIEW ALL INGREDIENTS