Is Paula’s Choice Resist Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum The Best Antioxidant Serum?

Last Updated on March 2, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

Ever heard the saying, an antioxidant serum a day keeps wrinkles away?

But not every antioxidant serum will do. Oh no. Most antioxidant serums only contain one or two antioxidants. Or better, a few drops of one or two antioxidants. Not enough to get the wrinkle prevention job done.

Antioxidants are like veggies. The more your skin eats, the younger it’ll look. So stock up. Use every antioxidant you can get your little hands on.

But wait… Does that mean you’ll have to use like 20 serums? If every serum only has one or two antioxidants, you’d have to use so many, your skincare routine will be 10 steps long!

There’s a shortcut. Get a serum like Paula’s Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum that has literally every antioxidant under the sun. Check this out:

Key Ingredients In Paula’s Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum: What Makes It Work?

ANTIOXIDANTS TO PREVENT PREMATURE AGING

Think of antioxidants as the skincare police.

Free radicals are criminals. They roam through your body looking for collagen, elastin and cellular DNA to destroy. When they succeed, skin starts to sag and wrinkle. You can even get dark spots.

Antioxidants patrol the body for free radicals. Their job is to neutralise them before they can wreak their damage on your skin. 

Here’s where it gets tricky: there are many types of free radicals. Each antioxidant normally deals with one or two types. See now why the more antioxidants you use, the more damage you’ll prevent?

Paula’s Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum is loaded with all the antioxidants you can think of. Like coenzyme Q10. Superoxide dismutase. Gluthatione. Soybean seed extract. Green tea. And a few more. Can you imagine how many antioxidants they can destroy all together?

Here are just some of the highlights:

• Ubiquinone: Also called coenzyme Q10, it fights wrinkles and soothes irritations.
• Thioctic Acid: Also known as Alpha Lipoic Acid, it’s an enzyme that fights free radicals and environmental damage.
• Superoxide Dismutase: An antioxidant enzymes that neutralises Superoxide Radical, one of the most common and most damaging type of free radicals.
• Epigallocatechin Gallate: The main antioxidant in green tea, it prevents wrinkles and soothes UV-induced irritation (another main cause of wrinkles).

Related: Why Antioxidants Are Key In Wrinkle Prevention

CEF (VITAMINS C + E + FERULIC ACID) TO ENHANCE SUN PROTECTION

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I don’t believe any antioxidant is better than the others. But some COMBINATIONS of antioxidants do work better than others.

Case in point: CEF = Vitamin C + Vitamin E + Ferulic Acid.

They’re all powerful antioxidants on their own:

• Vitamin C fights free radicals, boosts collagen and brightens skin
• Vitamin E fights free radicals and hydrates skin
• Ferulic acid fights 3 types of free radicals (most antioxidants only fight one)

But put them together and they supercharge one another:

• They make one another more stable and effective for longer
• They boost the protection of your sunscreen

Whatever antioxidant serum you go for, make sure it has CEF. Needless to say, this one does. 🙂

Fun fact: Paola’s Choice Resist Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum contains two forms of Vitamin C and 3 forms of Vitamin E! Finally, a serum that takes antioxidant protection seriously.

Related: How Ferulic Acid Supercharges Vitamin C And E

SILICONES TO ENHANCE TEXTURE

If you’re ready to hit the buy button, this may put you off: the serum is silicone based. I don’t have a problem with silicones. They allow the serum to glide on smoothly, make my skin silky soft and temporarily fill in fine lines and wrinkles so they look smaller.

They don’t even cause pimples: silicones have a particular molecular structure made up of larger molecules with wider spaces between each molecule. They create a barrier that keeps moisture in but still allows skin to perspire.

But if you use anything comedogenic before this serum, then yes, silicones can trap them underneath their protective barrier and cause breakouts.

Bottom line: don’t use comedogenic ingredients in your skincare and you’ll be fine.

Related: Are Silicones Good Or Bad?

Stop wasting your time and money on stuff that doesn’t work. Click on the image below to download “Skincare That Works” and finally get your best skin day – every day.

The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients

• Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5: A signal peptide made with amino acids lysine and valine combined with acid palmitic acid. According to the manufacturer, it boosts collagen production and makes skin smoother. I’m giving it a yellow rating only because I’m waiting for more independent studies to confirm these claims. And even if they’re confirmed, peptides still don’t work as well as retinoids or Vitamin C. Just saying…
• Ceramide NP: A natural component of the skin’s protective barrier, it deeply moisturises skin and protects it from environmental damage.
• Beta-Glucan: A skin soother that calms down redness and irritations.
• Ergothioneine: Another antioxidant that prevents premature wrinkles.
• Glutathione: An antioxidant that naturally occurs in the body, it fights wrinkles and helps treat discolourations.
• Xanthophylls: Another antioxidant that helps slow down premature aging (don’t you love how many antioxidants this serum has)?
• Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract: It has moisturising and antioxidant properties.
• Glycerin: It increases moisture levels in the skin, helping it stay hydrated for longer.
• Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi (Bearberry) Leaf Extract (skin-soothing): An anti-inflammatory ingredients that reduces redness and irritations. It’s great for sensitive skin.
• Lupinus Albus Seed Oil: Rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, it moisturises and prevents wrinkles.
• Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract: It has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that are godsend for sensitive skin. It reduces all kinds of irritations and redness.
• Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil: It has powerful emollient properties that leave skin softer and smoother.
• Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that inhibits the growth of nasty bacteria in your serum, keeping it safe for longer.

Texture

The texture is smooth and lightweight but a tad sticky. It doesn’t leave a greasy residue behind or anything like that but if your skin is oily, you may not like it very much.

Fragrance

It’s fragrance-free. Just like every other Paula’s Choice products. And unlike other fragrance-free products, it doesn’t smell bad. It’s quite neutral. Most importantly, it’s NON-irritating (fragrance is the most irritating ingredient in skincare products!).

How To Use It

You can use it twice a day, morning and night, after cleansing. In the morning, apply it just after cleanser. At night, it goes after retinol or exfoliating products and before other serums (think hyaluronic acid or peptides).

Performance & Personal Opinion

The only thing I’d change about Paula’s Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum? Its lightweight texture is a little bit sticky. It’s not a biggie, but it’ll put some people off.

If you can put up with it, it’s worth it. It leave skin silky soft and smooth to the touch and doubles up as a great base for foundation. It also gives my skin a lovely, natural glow. If you have dark spots, it may help you lighten them.

In the long run, the serum will help you age more slowly. Antioxidants can’t reduce the wrinkles you already have so if you expect to put this on and see your wrinkles disappear in two weeks, you’ll be SO disappointed.

What antioxidants do is PREVENT wrinkles. With regular use, you’ll stop new wrinkles from forming in the first place. And since prevention is easier than the cure, find a way to get your antioxidant fix every single day.

Another thing it does NOT do? Hydrate skin. But then this was never its job. Its job is to prevent wrinkles. If you need hydration, follow it up with a hyaluronic acid serum. (check out my fave picks here).

Related: Treatment VS Prevention: What Really Works To Fight Wrinkles

Packaging

Paula’s Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum comes in a blue bottle with a pump applicator. It’s hygienic, practical, and keeps the antioxidants safe and effective for as long as possible.

P.S. Old package pictured here.

What I Like About Paula’s Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum

• Lightweight texture
• Loaded with antioxidants that prevent wrinkles
• Brightens skin
• Mild skin-lightening action (you’ll still need retinol or alpha arbutin to do the job fast)
• Soothing, helps reduce irritations
• Fragrance-free
• Practical packaging

What I DON’T Like About Paula’s Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum

• Texture feels a little sticky
• Does NOT hydrate skin
• Can only prevent, not reduce wrinkles
• If you don’t like silicones, this isn’t for you

Who Should Use This?

Anyone who wants to prevent premature aging. Just keep in mind, if you have oily skin, the texture may put you off.

Does Paula’s Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum Live Up To Its Claims?

Price & Availability

Available at: $45.00 at Dermstore and Paula’s Choice

Do You Need It?

Yes. If you’re looking for an anti-aging serum to prevent the signs of aging, Paula’s Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum is one of the best options out there.