Description
Have you been plagued by acne? Acne is one of the most common skin conditions that affects 85% of teenagers and 50% of adults. It often leaves ugly scars, big bumps, and red patches on your face, chest, neck, back or shoulders. For some people the condition can itch and even make them depressed- it’s no wonder why! Thankfully Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting products that are designed to work synergistically to create clearer skin in less than 12 weeks. They also have products for acne scarring and acne types with different causes such as hormonal breakouts or reacting to certain skincare ingredients.
Product Description
<img alt=”Paula’s Choice Skin Care” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media/sc/98a0cf5d-3ff7-49e7-b645-3bba425fc063.__CR0,0,600,180_PT0_SX600_V1___.jpg”/>
Who We Are
About Paula
Skin care visionary Paula Begoun founded our company with one goal—help women uncover the truth about skin care. Over 35 years ago, she set out to discover which products would actually transform skin’s appearance and health and which were just fluff. True to that legacy, Paula’s Choice Skincare formulates effective products rooted in scientific research and backed by real results.
Beauty Begins with Truth
Since 1995 we’ve been questioning ingredients, following the facts and standing up for the consumer, because you deserve products that work exactly as they claim to. We do the research and formulate smart, efficacious products that transform skin of all ages and types for the better.
Smart Beauty Philosophy
You deserve smart skin care choices—minus all the hype. Our philosophy? Smart Beauty. Because the products you use should work and be good for your skin, no exceptions. Our formulas are effective, safe and backed by cited research we share with you along the way.
Smart. Safe. Effective. Fragrance-free. Cruelty-free. Non-Irritating. Made in the USA.
Lexi Sux –
So I was skeptical of the product for sure and also weather or not I have acne on my butt or ingrown hairs. I would post pics but don’t want to offend anyone.I would say on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being a few pimples and 10 being pimples covering a large area uncoverable by makeup my situation was about a 4.5I had tried scrubs, alcohol, creams, IPL and dark spot correctors with minimal results.This cleared up one spot I could feel coming in overnight and now I would say I’m about a 0.5 almost cleared. I got the package on the 12th it’s now the 24th I’ve missed a few days in between but tried to use 2x at least dailyI got the sample size the photo where I’ve drawn the line shows how much is left. The size is 1fl oz but this is not a cream. It is a liquid. I have been just applying and rubbing in no cotton ballJust make sure you wash your hands after because it will start peeling your dead skin off your hands too as well as the area so if your planning on wearing shorts exfoliate before just in case.I do not get acne on my face, I do get it on my butt or legs occasionally though. I wouldn’t say my skin is sensitive so if yours is maybe try a small area first and if your skeptical do the $10 bottle it’s liquid so it goes further than you thinkDidn’t see any reviews for butt acne so if that’s an issue for you try this out before buying the products specifically for that with mixed reviews try this out
Contractor –
Photo of all products I use plus – Full AM & PM skincare routine at bottomThis review is based on my experience as a 34-yr old woman diagnosed with PCOS. I’ve been struggling with acne, cystic acne, and rosacea for almost 11 years. I used to take super powerful medicine…don’t do it. It screws up your hormones even more in the long run. Acne is a huge part of PCOS, and can get out of control very quickly. Keep in mind that I have also been implanting new diet changes (DF, GF, sugar free, no eggs, no grain, low carb) and supplements as directed by my Naturopath.I was desperate to finally change my skin. I had to be in my brother’s wedding in 6 weeks, and I so badly wanted to feel confident in my skin. It was risky . There was no guarantee that my skin would be done purging by the time 6 weeks rolled around, but I took the risk. Surprisingly, the first week, my skin cleared up nicely. But then…into week 2 began the purge. Mind you, my purge wasn’t crazy. It was small pimples, but a lot of them; with new ones every single day. Cystic acne under jawline was constant, but manageable. I already had a pretty strict skincare routine before trying this, so I feel like my skin wasn’t as bad a say someone who’s skincare routine is less strict.As you can see from the photos, I had a couple purging periods. The first was at it’s worst around 30 days of daily (once a day) use of Paula’s Choice Exfoliate. It seemed to follow my menstrual cycle a bit, but my good days were few and far between for the first two months. By the end of May, I was beginning to think it wasn’t working for me. The week before the wedding rolls around, and I get a large cystic bump on my chin, very red, with little pain, though. This could have just been stress, not sure? Fast forward to mid-June. As I’m writing this, it has been a solid week and a half since I’ve experienced a fresh breakout. My old acne is healing, and my scars are beginning to fade. It’s also important to note that I started using the CeraVe SA Cleanser AM and PM a couple weeks before the wedding. And since I’ve been using it, I feel like my skin has really started to take a turn for the better.I wouldn’t say that this product was 100% the reason for my skin looking the way it does now, but I do know that it has a large part to do with it. I don’t expect my skin to be perfect forever, now. My skin still changes a lot throughout my cycle, so I expect the typical PMS breakouts, but this month has been very smooth sailing compared to the first two months, and it makes me REALLY excited!I love when people share their skincare routines. So if any other ladies out there who are PCOS sufferers, this is what my AM and PM routines look like.AM:1. Cleanse with CeraVe SA Cleanser (gently massage into face for 30 seconds) & rinse2. Apply The Ordinary’s Naicinamide & Zinc Serum on damp skin (let sit for 1 minute)3. Apply Esmi Skin Probiotic Skin Mylck as my moisturizer (very light moisturizer – let sit 1 min)4. Apply DRMTLGY’s Broad Spectrum 45spf Protect sunscreen (very important, very light, no white cast)PM:Double cleanse1. Cleanse once with Esmi Skin Minerals Uncomplicated Cleanser2. Cleanse again with CeraVe SA Cleanser (gentle massage for 30 seconds)3. Apply thin layer of Paula’s Choice Exfoliate to damp/almost dry skin (wait 15 minutes)4. Apply Esmi Skin Minerals’ Hyaluronic Serum (let sit for 1 minute)5. Apply Esmi Skin Minerals’ Probiotic Skin Mylck6. Apply thin layer of Terminator Benzoyl Peroxide 10% to problem areas (massage in on top of moisturizer, I do this because it’s too drying if I put it on underneath moisturizer)Don’t make the mistake of putting the Paula’s Choice Exfoliate on after skin completely dries. This dries me out very badly, and my skin will be tight all day the next day. I used to let it sit on my skin for 30 minutes before finishing my routine, but now I’m down to 15 minutes. I feel like it’s still very effective.The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2% mask is also very useful to dry up an active breakout or encourage something under the skin to come to the surface. I usually only use this one time. Anymore than that on that same spot, and it’ll turn red and be very dry (in my experience). Let the mask sit for 15 minutes. I only use a dab of it on the active acne spot. I don’t know if I would have the courage to smear this over my entire chin/mouth area where I’m prone to breakouts. It’s very drying stuff.I know this was long, but I hope that this will help someone else who may be experiencing not just adult hormonal acne, but acne caused by serious hormonal imbalances and insulin resistance due to PCOS. I FINALLY feel like I’m on the right track!
Audrey S. –
My skin type:- Very Dry, easily dehydrated- Oily nose- Prone to stubborn acne and closed comedones- Redness on chin and cheeks (not rosacea)I already use a nightly Tretinoin cream (.04% concentration) to help with my acne and premature signs of aging but decided with my derm that incorporating a BHA would be a good idea to help with my seriously stubborn closed comedones and some irritating textural issues. It was between this and the Cerave SA lotion and I ultimately decided on this due to the higher concentration of salicylic acid.It’s moisturizing, and feels sticky for the first 5-10 minutes after application but seems to sinks in to something of a satin finish on me and I can no longer feel it on my skin. You just have to be a little patient. My skin feels well hydrated and plump after it settles and looks really smooth and my pores aren’t as obvious. It sits just fine under makeup for me but I’m not a new user to chemical exfoliants so I don’t have lots of dead skin pilling up or sloughing off when I use it, my skin is, for the most part, already very smooth outside the acne and CCs. Occasionally I’ll apply it further down my neck/decolletage than usual and WOW do I old skin just ball up and peel right away – it’s so gross but also satisfying. So those that don’t exfoliate often or are new to BHA/AHAs will likely have issues with foundation until their skin adjusts (but it will adjust). My advice in those cases is to either use this at night for the first few weeks or just accept going barefaced for a little while if you can.I’d strongly suggest not applying this product over anything that you feel does not dry down fully, the times I’ve attempted to use it after serums or heavier products it takes forever to sink in and sometimes never fully does. I save all my serums and essences for after this has absorbed and it’s far easier to work with it as a result. My steps go like this most days: ACWell Licorice toner — PC 2% BHA — 10% Niacinamide serum — TO Matryxil serum — Secret Key Black Snail cream or Syn-ake cream w/ 3 drops Stratia Fortify oil — Sunscreen.It works fairly quickly IMO, on my neck where I typically don’t apply my Tret at night I noticed the peeling and balling of dead skin on day one and on my face where I have a patch of really awful CCs I noticed them getting smaller and smoother by around day 3-4. I’m going on about 8 days now and they’re barely visible unless I’m right up in the mirror and feel as if they’re almost gone when I touch my fingers to that area. I do have some slight peeling of the skin around my mouth and nose but it’s not terrible (likely because I already exfoliate the heck out of my skin with the tret).Some tips and things keep in mind:1)DO NOT RINSE IT OFF. I don’t understand some of the top reviews advising people to do that, it says on the bottle not to rinse and nearly all chemical exfoliators are meant to be left on until the next cleansing specifically so they can do their job. If you rinse it off you’re either going to prevent it from properly exfoliating or end up irritating the hell out of your skin. If you have oily skin and feel this might be heavy on you than you can probably just use this on bare skin and then sunscreen if you use in the AM or a lightweight lotion/cream and be done with it, but you need to leave it on your skin.2)You have got to use sunscreen while you’re using this product! Any BHA or AHA exfoliant causes increased sun sensitivity and you have to address that in your routine. You should already use sunscreen daily but it becomes a must when you incorporate a chemical exfoliator or you risk sun damage.3)Less is more! Don’t slop this on your face or soak a cotton pad in it, a little goes a long way and you’ll be kicking yourself if you apply way too much and have to wait 20+ minutes for it to sink in. Use a shake or two and add more if needed but go easy.4)Expect some irritation initially. Chemical exfoliants can be harsh and rough even on sturdy skin and you have to give yourself time to adjust. Over-exfoliation is a possibility but sometimes just introducing a BHA or AHA into your routine can cause some sensitivity. Don’t panic and just be gentle to your skin. Use ceramides (like Cerave Skin Renewing cream) or fatty oils to soothe your face if needed and try to stay away from any harsh products or acids like Vitamin C right after applying this to avoid really burning your face.
Lisa –
This stuff is amazing! After one week of use there was a noticeable difference in my skin and I decided to order the Paula’s Choice toner and clay mask to supplement.If your pores need some TLC, this product will leave you thinking it leaves your skin oily but that is not the case! Your skin feels oily because this stuff is drawing all the crap out of your pores, making them noticeably smaller (look closely in the mirror!)!I have been using this religiously every morning and night for less than a month now and have already gotten multiple compliments on the difference in my skin. If you’re trying to decide whether or not to buy this, DO IT!
Sydney –
I haven’t used it yet but I did get the 1fl oz. It’s really small (size of a travel toothpaste) but I think it’s a great size to see if the product works for your skin. It’s so cute! But I don’t know where to put it in my skin care routine. It says to use it everyday and not to wash it off…I thought it was like the body exfoliates with balls but it’s a liquid. If anyone can help me out let me know!
Amazon Customer –
I have been using this for about a year now as a recommendation someone provided to me. I have been dealing for years with adult acne that I’ve been to dermatologists for and have been prescribed medication and the acne kept coming back. They keep saying it’s my hormones, but all my blood work came back normal.I started this at first in my nightly routine just applying after cleansing and toning and and for the first 5 weeks my acne actually got way worse. I was ready to throw it away, but the person who recommended it to me said to give it up to six weeks as my skin would purge it’s pores. At about the 7-8 week mark there was significant change, it was like it cleared up all the acne overnight. My pores looked smaller, I was noticing some fine lines were almost disappearing, and my skin was almost glowing again. I ran out of this and didn’t re-order for a few months and the acne came right back. So here I am ordering another bottle although this time I’m using morning and night. If you have sensitive skin I’d recommend only using once per day until your skin gets used to it, but then you can gradually add in twice per day morning and night.There’s no harsh smell, its a liquid exfoliant so it almost feels like you’re just putting a toner on and not using scrubbing particles to exfoliate your face. I love this product.
vbchic –
Let me start by saying I have congested skin, so I know I need an exfoliant. I have used a large number of scrubs, peels, etc. throughout the years and most were bleh. I had become frustrated recently once again with my skin needing help and I saw this item. I decided to try it, and I have used it two nights in a row.Outcome: I could see a significant difference after just the first night. This morning after the second night/application, I still saw an improvement. I am excited that my skin is looking smoother, clearer, and has smaller pores after just two days. I repeat TWO DAYS. I will keep putting it on every night since it does leave a bit of a residue on the skin that I feel I would not like during the day (but maybe it was because I put a lot of it on). Overall, I will continue to use it. And for it being as effective as it is, I don’t think it’s going to irritate or make my skin red like some other exfoliants have used. But if anything changes I will update my review. Right now, if I could give this 10 stars I would.Also, I feel like this will only help people who have skin that needs exfoliating. If you have decent skin or skin that doesn’t need exfoliating, it may not be that amazing nor effective. But it all depends on what your skin needs, so if you have any needs that this product addresses I think you should give it a go. It at least won’t harm or irritate your skin.*Disclaimer: I put on a significant amount of this both nights, probably about a good double dose all over my face and the front of my neck and rubbed it in a bit with the cotton pad. I am certain this sped up the exfoliating process, and as I continue to use it I will probably go down to putting on just one application rather than a double application each night. I may eventually go to every other night, but that remains to be seen. I will just go with the flow and do whatever my skin needs. So far, amazingly effective.UPDATE: After the 3rd double application last night, I am STILL seeing an improvement in my skin. I will go down to a normal nightly application starting tonight since my skin is feeling a bit tight. It isn’t inflamed but I can tell it could become irritated if I continue double strength applications daily. And my skin is much improved already, so there is no reason to risk irritation. I will update how the regular single application works. Oh, I am seeing wrinkles diminish as well under and around my eyes!UPDATE #2: After the normal single application last night my skin is still improving. It doesn’t feel as tight as yesterday, so it was a good I listened to my skin. Will continue with single layer nightly applications! Still loving it!UPDATE #3: After several more days of using it only at night and an overall single application (with a little extra on certain areas of my face), my skin is still continuing to improve. I am definitely sold on this.UPDATE #4: After almost another week of use it feels like my skin has gotten used to it so I will be using a light coating in the morning with moisturizer afterward, and a heavy application at night also with moisturizer after. I will let the exfoliant fully dry before putting on the moisturizer to make sure it stays where it should. I will report back on how it goes. Fine lines are diminishing and it seems like a few darker spots on my face are slowly lightening. So far, I am still loving it. (I am also putting it on the front of my neck and upper chest and it’s helping there as well.) HOWEVER, I am not a person who puts on foundation or much makeup, so I am not sure how using this during the day would affect someone the foundation staying in place or not. Once I am back to my normal work outside the house I may decide to use it only at night, we will see.UPDATE #5: I am still using this daily twice a day and still seeing improvement in my skin. A few darker patches of skin near my temples are lightening, my pores are still getting smaller, and my fine lines are still diminishing. I have set this up on a subscription because it works so well for me. I hope this review helped you!
FamAccount –
I used the entire bottle and it’s good if you’re constantly using it but how often depends on your skin type. My skin is not extremely sensitive, combination-dry skin, pimples here and there and texture, a little oily in my nose but at first it did burn when i used it 2 days in a row. I didn’t give up on it though because although my face looked sunburned it looked glowy and smooth. I started using it every other day to only a couple days a week to everyday because didn’t burn anymore. Takes a little getting used to. I had a bit of texture on my forehead and some pimples and saw results within a week. My texture on my nose and forehead smoothed out and pimples were gone. works really well with fading scars, i had a little on from a pimple and it just disappeared. but when i wasn’t consistent it didn’t work as well, keep that in mind and the bottle is TINY like the size of my palm probably.
A reader –
Did it make me look ten years younger? Nope. But did it result in some smoother, softer skin? Yes, surprisingly, it did. Some people have reported some truly dramatic results attributable to this product and that’s fantastic. I didn’t face a major issue myself, but was just seeking a bit of “freshening” via exfoliation. This delivered, no doubt about it. I’m impressed enough that this will become a regular part of my routine and I wouldn’t say that if the results were in any way ambiguous.
Julian –
I purchased this with Paula’s pore normalizing cleanser.At first my skin was really sensitive to the exfoliant and it did sting a bit to where I had to wash it off and use less of it. I also started breaking out a ton (purging). Two months later, my skin is really glowy, my acne scars have smoothed out, my skin all looks near the same color unlike before where I had red acne mark’s and hyperpigmentation. I still break out every now and then but it’s not as bad as it used to be, and the exfoliant no longer stings regardless of how much I use. Better skin won’t happen over night but if you trust the process, you’ll like the end result.My routine isEvening: Shower>Use Cleanser>Use Exfoliant>sleepAnd then in the morning I apply sunscreen before going out/work.Hope this helps!