Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Intensive Moisturizer
Paula’s Choice is expanding its peptide portfolio with a richer take on one of its existing moisturiser concepts, introducing the Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Intensive Moisturizer for skin that needs considerably more than a quick dose of hydration. The cream has been developed primarily for dry, very dry and stressed skin, as well as for periods when the skin barrier is feeling depleted following seasonal changes or the use of active ingredients.
The new launch follows the brand’s existing Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer, but switches its lighter gel-cream texture for a richer, cushiony cream designed to deliver deeper and longer-lasting moisturisation. The existing gel-cream offers 24-hour hydration and is aimed more broadly at normal, combination and oily skin, while the new formula has been designed for skin struggling to retain moisture. The result is effectively the winter coat of the Paula’s Choice peptide family: richer and more protective, but still designed with the brand’s preference for treatment-led formulas in mind.
At the centre of the formula is Paula’s Choice’s 3X Pro-Collagen Peptide Complex. It is combined with red micro-algae extract, which is used to help trap water within the skin’s surface layers, and what the brand calls Moisture-Locking Lipid Technology, developed to reinforce the skin’s lipid barrier and improve moisture retention. Despite the richer texture, Paula’s Choice has formulated the cream to melt into the skin without leaving the heavy or greasy finish that can make intensive moisturisers difficult to incorporate into a daytime routine.
Independent clinical testing found the formula could boost hydration for up to 120 hours, while separate instrumental measurements showed an improvement in the skin barrier within 24 hours. The brand also reports visible firming and smoothing with continued use, including improvements in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
That places the new launch firmly within the growing category of moisturisers expected to do more than simply soften the surface of the skin. Barrier support, water retention and longer-term hydration have become increasingly central to skincare formulation, particularly as consumers combine stronger acids, retinoids and other actives within increasingly complex routines.
Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Intensive Moisturizer, £49, launches on 3 September 2026 at Paula’s Choice and Space NK alongside a new campaign starring Hannah Waddingham.
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