Final Thoughts On The Best Of Paulas Choice
Even if you incorporate one or two products from this list of the best Paulas Choice skincare products into your skincare routine, youll be getting reasonably priced science-driven products that truly perform. I currently use the niacinamide and C15 booster serums daily.
If you want to try multiple Paulas Choice products at a discount, they offer several kits such as:
- Niacinamide + BHA Duo: Includes 10% Niacinamide Booster and Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
- Advanced Firm & Brighten Kit: Includes CLINICAL 1% Retinol Treatment and C15 Super Booster
- Paulas Choice Advanced Illuminate + Smooth Kit: Includes SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant C15 Super Booster CLINICAL 1% Retinol Treatment
Thanks for reading, and until next time
Resist Intensive Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum $42
The Intensive Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum is a part of Paulas RESIST line, which focuses on products for acne-prone skin.
It is a silky, lightweight serum that contains a mid-strength retinol concentration of 0.1%, which is a good starting option for retinol newbies.
The serum aims to even out skin texture, soften fine lines, provide hydration, and brighten hyperpigmentation for a more radiant and uniform look.
Besides retinol, the Intensive Wrinkle Repair Serum also contains softening emollients, triglycerides, antioxidants, soothing, and restoring ingredients.
Best for all skin types.
Paulas Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster
Paulas Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster is a concentrated serum booster formulated with 10% niacinamide.
Niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, is a superstar skincare active because it offers many benefits to the skin, including the following:
- Brightens the skin
- Refines the look of pores
- Improves the look of wrinkles and fine lines
- Improves the look of skin texture
- Helps to balance sebum production
- Increases cell turnover to even out skin tone
- Supports a healthy skin moisture barrier
This multi-tasking serum is enriched with a vitamin C derivative, ascorbyl glucoside for additional brightening, and sodium hyaluronate, the salt form of hyaluronic acid, a humectant that aids in hydration.
Ubiquinone, epigallocatechin gallate, carnosine, and genistein provide antioxidant protection against environmental factors like UV rays and pollution. Licorice root extract, panthenol, and beta-glucan soothe the skin.
This serum booster has an ultra light almost water-like texture. You can apply it alone to your face, neck, or chest or mix it with another serum or moisturizer. Its so light that it wont interfere with other products.
If you want a super-charged niacinamide booster, consider Paulas Choice Clinical 20% Niacinamide Treatment to tighten and minimize the look of enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, post-acne marks and orange-peel skin texture.
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How To Contact Paulas Choice
If you have any questions after reading this Paulas Choice review, you can contact the brand via:
- Email or chat: form on the companys site
- Phone: 1.800.831.4088
The companys customer service hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, and Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm PDT.
Explore your options for skincare with these other popular brands:
How Long Is Paulas Choices Shipping
The brand ships both domestically and internationally. Deliveries to the US and Canadawill be sent out within 1-3 business days. Shipping is sent through UPS, FedEx, or the U.S. Postal Service and is free over $49. Your other shipping options include:
- US Standard : $6
- US 2- Business day Express: $15
- US 1- Business day Express: $25
- Canada Standard : $8
- US Territories Standard: $10
- International Economy: $55
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Paulas Choice Super Antioxidant Serum
Paulas Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum is a high-strength antioxidant serum that tackles dullness and hydrates parched, dry skin.
Perfect for aging skin, this Paulas Choice serum is enriched with a slew of vitamin and plant-derived antioxidants to improve the visible signs of aging, like fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, sun spots, and uneven skin tone.
The serum contains two stabilized vitamin c derivatives, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. These actives provide antioxidant protection, brighten the skin, and improve collagen production for a strong skin barrier.
Other antioxidants include tocopherol , ubiquinone , thioctic acid , ferulic acid, superoxide dismutase, epigallocatechin gallate, ergothioneine, xanthophyll, Glycine soja seed extract, and Arctostaphylos uva ursi leaf extract.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 helps improve skin elasticity and firmness while reducing the look of pores. Ceramide NP supports a healthy skin barrier.
I think this is one of the best antioxidant serums on the market. Several very potent antioxidants in the well-formulated serum provide excellent protection against environmental aggressors while repairing your skin.
Skin Perfecting 25% Aha + 2% Bha Exfoliant Peel $39
The 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel is a multi-acid, rinse-off exfoliating treatment that dramatically resurfaces skin to visibly smooth wrinkles, refine rough, bumpy texture brighten the skin tone & unclog congested pores.
The concentrated gel-serum contains 2% salicylic acid in addition to a potent AHA blend of 8.4% glycolic, 7% lactic, 5% mandelic, 2.5% malic, and 2% tartaric acid, and it can be used once a week, ideally on evenings when you are not using other potent actives such as retinol or anti-acne medication.
Best for dry/mature/combo/oily/acne-prone skin.
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Clinical Discoloration Repair Serum $46
Discoloration Repair Serum is a potent treatment that targets brown and gray spots or patches on the skin by using a tranexamic complex with bakuchiol and niacinamide.
Bakuchiol is often dubbed as the natural, pregnancy-safe alternative to retinol, but the studies behind these claims are weak.
However, it has been proven that bakuchiol has some antioxidant properties that help fight against free radical damage.
On the other hand, both tranexamic acid and niacinamide are decent tyrosinase inhibitors that can help reduce and correct hyperpigmentation.
Niacinamide is also a barrier-repairing ingredient that helps strengthen the skin barrier, aiding it to deal better with future inflammation.
Best for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
A Focus On Skincare Facts
Paulas Choice explains product research to customers clearly and concisely, always citing studies and sources. One stand-out quality of the brand is that each product page on their website cites exact studies used to guide the product formula. Brilliant!
Natural and synthetic ingredients are used in Paulas Choice products, but irritating and drying ingredients are always avoided. Ingredients that Paulas Choice avoids include: 1,4 dioxane, abrasive particles, alcohol, aluminum powder, essentials oils, fragrant plant extracts, formaldehyde, nanoparticles, phthalaltes, sodium, laurel sulfate, synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrance, talc and toluene.
Paulas Choice products are never tested on animals and the brand is Leaping-Bunny certified.
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Paulas Choice Skincare Review
Whether youre struggling with acne, dryness, age spots, or a variety of other skin concerns, Paulas Choice has a product that is designed to help. I loved the fact that if I wasnt sure why a specific ingredient is included in a formula or how it can help me, I could simply check out the brands Ingredient Glossary for an explanation. Thats incredibly helpful to me.
The brand has hundreds of products to choose from, including creamy cleansers, replenishing toners, gentle exfoliators, powerful treatments, and more. If you arent sure where to start, Ive got you covered in this Paulas Choice review has you covered. Ill take a look at some of the companys most iconic products so you can see what it has to offer.
When you hear the name Paulas Choice, the first product you think of is probably the 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. And theres a reason for that: this award-winning leave-on exfoliator was one of the firsts of its kind, ever.
Like you do, I know how important a step exfoliating is in our beauty routines. Other products cant do much if weve got a layer of dead and dry skin covering up our radiant complexion. The Paulas Choice 2 BHA product offers a gentle method of exfoliating that can be used up to twice daily.
In an independent study, 91% of users reported healthier-looking skin after using the 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. Add this top product to your beauty regimen for $10-$30 .
Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment $60
If theres any product our readers love , its the brands best-selling Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment. As one of our expert-recommended retinol treatments, its lauded for including peptides and vitamin C, too, targeting wrinkles and more youthful-looking skin.
Its quick to absorb, too, and instantly gives my skin the nourishment it craves, much like a body lotion would.
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Paulas Choice Retinol For Beginners
Paulas Choice notes that initially, you should use this only three times per week , and gradually increase usage to every other night and then eventually to every night once your skin can tolerate it. Prior to your first application, be sure to spot test for sensitivity and remember that this retinol is very strong.
NOTE: If you have sensitive skin, you may consider starting with a lower concentration of retinol. I wrote about several drugstore options in this post.
Or consider Paulas Choice 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment, which contains a lower 0.3% retinol concentration and 2% retinol-alternative bakuchiol that provides results comparable to retinol but without the typical irritation.
Paulas Choice Discoloration Repair Serum
Paulas Choice Discoloration Repair Serumfights hyperpigmentation and discoloration while targeting brown and gray patches for a more even skin tone.
The serum uses a combination of actives to brighten the skin and prevent further dark spots and patchy skin tone.
A 5% concentration of niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, offers a multitude of benefits for the skin, including reducing inflammation, evening out skin tone, breaking up discoloration, and boosting collagen production.
A 3% concentration of tranexamic acid helps to brighten the skin and fade dark spots by inhibiting melanin production. A 0.5% concentration of bakuchiol, a plant-derived retinol alternative, provides anti-aging benefits without irritation.
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the skin from environmental damage. Allantoin soothes and calms the skin.
Initially, you can use this fragrance-free serum three times a week. As your skin acclimates, you can increase usage to once or twice daily.
Remember, this serum, and all of the skincare products in this post, work best when used in conjunction with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher during the day to protect your skin from further discoloration, sun spots, and hyperpigmentation.
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Can You Return Paulas Choice
While writing this Paulas Choice review, I discovered that the brand offers refunds and exchanges within 60 days of your purchase if you are unsatisfied for any reason. If this time period has passed but you are still within 180 days, then you will receive store credit instead. Not a bad compromise, just keep in mind that youree responsible for the cost of return shipping.
To make a return:
% Azelaic Acid Booster $36
The 10% Azelaic Acid is a booster product containing a mild percentage of salicylic acid, an exfoliating acid as well as azelaic acid, which has shown to have a significant impact on the skin and certain skin concerns.
Some skin concerns that can be treated with azelaic acid, include blemishes, post-acne redness, hyperpigmentation, and other discoloration, texture, and dull, tired complexion.
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Best Paulas Choice Products For Hyperpigmentation
This article is a continuation of my newest series, where I give product recommendations for different skin concerns from one famous brand.
In my last Paulas Choice Recommendations article, I talked about the best products for acne-prone skin.
So, since acne and hyperpigmentation go hand in hand, I decided to focus on treatments for whats left once acne has finally healed.
So here are my recommendations of the 10 best Paulas Choice products for hyperpigmentation:
NB:If you have acne and want it gone
Who Is Paulas Choice Best For
Paulas Choice has so many skin care collections, ranging from products for acne-prone skin to products for advanced skin aging. Because of this, I would say Paulas Choice has something for skin of every type.
While I didnt get to try every single product in the Paulas Choice line, whatever I did get my hands on worked well for me.
The Paulas Choice website also has a handy little skin type quiz. You can use it to narrow down which one of the Paulas Choice collections would be best for you.
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How Long Does It Take To See A Difference When Using Paulas Choice
The time it takes to see a difference when using any product depends on the product you use and its ingredients.
I saw a difference in my skin tone and texture at least 1 week into using these products. But the effect may have been less dramatic since I regularly use these ingredients in my skin care routine already.
Paulas Choice Reviews: What Do Customers Think
The brands products look promising, but I wanted to see what customers really think about them. So, for this part of my Paulas Choice review, I sourced testimonials from the companys website, Influenster, Trustpilot, and the BBB.
Overall, most users are happy with the brands treatments, creams, and cleansers, and report that they are effective. Lets take a look.
On Paulas Choices website, its top-selling products garner hundreds to thousands of reviews. Pretty impressive. Collectively, they average around 4.1/5 stars, with most customers reporting an improvement in their skin condition after using. Heres an overview:
- 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant:an average of 4.16/5 stars from 5.2k ratings
- 8% AHA Exfoliant:an average of 4.2/5 stars from 370 ratings
- 1% Retinol Treatment: an average of 4.2/5 stars from 613 ratings
- BHA 9 Treatment: an average of 3.93/5 stars from 1k ratings
- C15 Super Booster:an average of 3.83/5 stars from 939 ratings
- Pore-Reducing Toner:an average of 4.06/5 stars from 508 ratings
- Acne Body Spray:an average of 4.26/5 stars from 202 ratings
I chose to take an in-depth look at the 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant because its the brands most-reviewed product. Users report fast results and an improvement in acne, texture, and skin tone. Take this example:
I literally used this product twice in the last week and already my acne and red patches have faded dramatically.
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Overview Of Paulas Choice
Paula Begoun struggled with acne and eczema, but couldnt find products that helped. This struggle inspired her to enter the beauty industry, where she sought research-backed effective ingredients and strong but safe formulations.
Making products with this balance is easier said that done, so right off the bat, I admire Paula for her no-nonsense approach to skincare.
She founded Paulas Choice in 1995 with a noble philosophy: Smart, safe beauty. The products you use should work and be good for your skin, no exceptions We uncover the truth about skin care and share all of the facts with you along the waybecause keeping your skin healthy shouldnt be a mystery.
Indeed, this Seattle, Washington-based company cares about educating its customers. In 2002, it launched the Ingredient Dictionary, which is perhaps my favorite feature. This source lists all ingredients commonly found in beauty products, gives them a rating from poor to best, assigns a category , then provides an explanation. It ensures customers are fully informed about what they apply to their skin and educated them to make better future decisions.
I dont know what half of the ingredients are in the formulas I use, and the ones I do Ive had to laboriously type out, double-checking there were indeed 3 consonants in a rowIm talking about you, pthalates.
Now that youre seeing the brand a little more clearly too, just below in this Paulas Choice review, Ill give you a look at its pros and cons.
C15 Super Booster $49
C15 Super Booster is a serum that contains 15% vitamin C that works to brighten hyperpigmentation, even out uneven skin tone, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and most importantly improve sun damage on the skin.
Besides vitamin C, the booster also contains vitamin E, a good emollient, ferulic acid with excellent antioxidant properties to fight against free-radical damage, and peptides to help restore skin plumpness, radiance, and bounciness.
Best for dry/mature/sun-damaged and hyperpigmented skin.
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Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment $48
Paulas Choice Niacinamide 20% serum is a high-strength niacinamide treatment that can minimize the look of enlarged pores, smoothen rough bumps caused by inflammation, and even out the skin tone especially when it comes to brightening hyperpigmentation left from old acne.
Although it is marketed as a treatment that can be used twice a day, this is a strong niacinamide percentage because this particular ingredient has been proven to be effective in as little as 4%.
Therefore, there is no need for it to be used twice a day however, if its a part of your standard regimen and you dont use many other actives, you may very well use a few drops of it once a day.
Besides niacinamide, the serum also contains other hydrating ingredients such as glycerin and panthenol, as well as Paulas signature soothing ingredients such as licorice root extract, green tea extract, Japanese camellia extract, allantoin, etc.
Best for all skin types, including acne-prone and sensitive skin.