Paula's Choice Skincare products are not very well known at all, and they are quite hard to get ahold of here in Canada. But the company and their products are quite unique and I have nothing but good things to say about the range of products I've been testing out over the past month. They were created by Paula Begoun and her team, a group who seem to want to do nothing but find the perfect products for all skin concerns. Each product is well thought out and non-irritating, 100% fragrance-free, dye-free, and not tested on animals.
I got the chance to try out a range of 7 products, customized to my skin's needs through a personal consultation with one of Paula's Choice's representatives. Of course, it was EXTREMELY hard to test so many new products at once but none of them broke me out (woot!). I do of course, have favourites, and have more to say about certain products than others, so please read on! :)
Paula's Choice Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser (190 ml)
• Preserves skin's protective barrier
• Removes makeup and oil
• Leaves skin soothed and refreshed
This is a perfect cleanser! It has no added fragrance but still has a nice scent, and it doesn't leave the skin feeling dried out. I have been using it constantly and I would love to repurchase this. It does remove makeup but not very well. It is best to use after you've removed your makeup and will get off any foundation that is left on the face. It is a little foaming, and you don't need much to cleanse the entire face.
Paula's Choice Resist Advanced Replenishing Toner (118 ml)
• Super-charged toner smoothes wrinkles
• Builds collagen for firmer skin
• Anti-irritants calm redness
This toner is ideal to use after cleansing and with a cotton pad. As far as I can see from looking at the ingredients it does not contain any harsh ingredients that most toners do, such as alcohol. To be honest, I didn't find myself using this toner much because I am just the type of girl to forget to use a toner 95% of the time. However the times I did remember to use it, I was surprised as it did not irritate or sting my skin.
• Light lotion to hydrate and firm
• Repair multiple signs of aging
• Reduce wrinkles on face & eye area
This moisturizer is great for both night and day. If using it in the daytime it is best to be followed with an SPF afterwards, since this doesn't contain any. It contains retinol (a derivative of vitamin A to fight wrinkles and soften skin. It comes in a thin bottle with a pump dispenser. The moisturizer goes on very light and absorbs quickly. Sometimes I found it absorbing too quickly and I felt like I would end up needing more product than I wanted to use. Because the bottle is so thin (50ml) I wish I could use it more sparingly.
Paula's Choice Hydralight Shine-Free Daily Mineral Complex (60 ml)
• Light lotion to leave skin soft, matte finish
• Can be used with sensitive skin & rosacea
• Prevents signs of aging
This lotion is ideal for daytime use, as it contains SPF 30. It is fragrance free (as with all of Paula's Choice products) but it does have a scent that I can only describe as similar to a pencil crayon. I don't have much luck with moisturizers that contain SPF, but this one is really going to be a winner for the summer! I haven't been using it much, I mean I know there are still UV rays in the winter time but I hate applying SPF in general so I try to avoid it in the winter. It goes on with a shine but dries pretty quickly, although it does leave a slightly thick SPF feeling to the skin. Not SUPER thick but I mean, it doesn't feel as nice as the Barrier Repair Moisturizer feels on the skin. I will definitely be using this much more in the upcoming summer months!
Paula's Choice Redness Relief BHA Lotion (100 ml)
I don't want to bore you with so many moisturizers, so I promise this is the last one! This Redness Relief Lotion was also included in my routine and I had a hard time fitting it in as I was already trying to use 2 other moisturizers! This one however, contains 1% BHA and is ideal for reducing pore size and smoothing the skin. BHA is ideal for dealing with whitehead and blackhead prone skin. I actually didn't really like the packaging of this one, it has a pump but it felt a lot cheaper than the Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer and the texture is thicker. I found this to be better as a spot moisturizer rather than for the entire face. It works best using it on problem areas only.
Paula's Choice Resist C15 Super Booster (20 ml)
Totally fell in love with this Super Booster, like I knew I would. It contains 15% Vitamin C and also contains Vitamin E & Ferulic Acid. Super Booster is ideal to fade brown spots and any scarring. I am always skeptical of products that say they fade brown or dark spots but I knew this would work seeing as it contains Vitamin C and E. I used it mainly around my mouth, to fade old acne spots, and it works slowly but surely. You obviously won't see results overnight, it takes time and consistent use, as with any vitamin C product.
Paula's Choice Resist Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum (30 ml)
This serum also contains vitamin C, although it leaves a bit of an oily feeling on the skin. It is ideal for fighting multiple signs of aging on the skin and I wouldn't recommend using it at any time of the day except before bed. I really dislike thick and oily serums like this so I have to admit that I didn't try this more than 3 times. It really doesn't dry well on the skin and is just a thick, odd, texture. I would much prefer to stick to using the Super Booster.
I love that none of the products I received came in a jar type packaging, all had either a squeeze tube or a pump! This keeps the products sanitary and quick to use. I chose not to list the prices of the products because I usually do this if the products are available in Canada and I list Canadian pricing. Paula's Choice is available to be shipped to Canada, but the products are coming from the United States and the pricing is a bit different (due to our terrible dollar!).
I guess the only downside of Paula's Choice is that a lot of their products look the same! At the beginning it was a little hard for me to differentiate between some products at first glance. Like: I'd grab the moisturizer thinking it was the toner! This isn't a huge deal obviously but a better way to differentiate the products would be nice.
Overall the products I would love to purchase would be the Cleanser, Barrier Repair Moisturizer and the Super Booster. I really have to test the Hydralight Daily Mineral Complex more thoroughly but I have a feeling I would purchase this once I run out too, since I have to start incorporating SPF into my routine!
What is truly special to me about these products is that they are fragrance-free, and I think that is what makes me fall in love with the brand! I'd also like to mention that Paula's Choice products are all made in the USA, and they offer their customers a 100% money-back guarantee within 60 days for a full refund or credit.
These products were received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates.
