It’s very easy to fall down the rabbit hole with PC products, especially if you’re a newbie and have either never tried products with active ingredients or never tried PC products before. Here’re my Paula’s Choice favourites that I’ve bought countless times.
Beware of the actives
A word of warning, though: that stuff is POTENT. You can actually wreck your skin quite easily when you’re just ‘trying out a few products’, especially if your skin isn’t used to actives in higher doses. ALWAYS only introduce one new product into your skincare regime, and do it slowly. After one skin renewing cycle it’s safe to start introducing another one.
There’s also that myth of initial worsening floating around on the net. That’s garbage. You’ve to understand, though, that your skin might be signalling you that you’re doing too much: that might resemble a sunburn (in case of retinol), or troubled, bumpy skin with redness when introducing acids.
I like a lot of Paula’s products, although there’re some that didn’t do anything for me. In a well-rounded skincare routine I find it difficult to pinpoint specific products that have this or that effect. I always try to combine ‘pampering’ products with products including active ingredients.
10% Niacinamide Booster
Ah, Niacinamides. They can truly do everything (and more) when it comes to skin improvement. And on top of that, it’s scientifically proven! Isn’t that nice. Nearly everyone’s skin gets along with them, as well, and they’re easy to introduce into your skincare routine. That’s the reason they’re great for people starting their skincare journey and want their skin to look better.
They’re great antioxidants, are brightening, especially if you suffer from hyperpigmentation. They’re also anti-infammatory, which makes them a great tool against acne. It’s also great for drier skin, because Niacinamide helps to bind water. On top of that, the booster has a water-like consistency that makes it great for mixing. I’ve added a few drops into my serums or moisturisers every morning and evening for ages (see evidence here) (don’t use more than the advised four drops max, because skin can’t absorb more). ($44 for 20ml, here.)
1% Retinol Booster
Another booster! Yup, love them and their ability to give a little extra boost to your other skincare products. While everybody’s skin can profit from niacinamides, the Retinol Booster is a different kind of animal entirely. This is not for skincare newbies, nor retinol beginners. Retinoids are awesome: They are generally able to improve skin concerns like acne and wrinkles. How they do it depends partly on the form of the retinoic acid you chose – retinol is one of them. It’s a rather potent form, and that’s why you should be careful using it (if you’re pregnant or want to conceive, don’t use it).
Also, sunscreen is a must when using any retinoids. Like niacinamides, you won’t see a direct effect from using them. You can see first changes after about two months, and real changes after six. With retinol it’s best to slowly introduce it into your skincare routine, and that’s one of the reasons I love the booster so much (look at this old review!). You can choose how much you use, and what to mix it with. On top of everything, the booster comes with a lot of antioxidants, ceramides and peptides. Those make the formula gentle – soothing on top of the powerful retinol punch it packs. ($52 for 15ml, here.)
Clinical Ceramide-Enriched Firming Moisturiser
LOVE. BIG LOVE. (I might be biased, soooooo.) This one has any buzz-y ingredient of late: on top of retinol and Vitamin C you get a lot of ceramides and peptides. Especially the latter have a moment right now. PC itself promotes this as a night time moisturiser (I guess because of the retinol and Vit C?), but there’s no reason not to use it during day time, IF you’re wearing sunscreen diligently. Instead of being labelled as a moisturiser, this one has astonishingly little hydrators, which makes it more of a serum for a lot of people. I can use it as a moisturiser only in summer. But no biggie, everything else makes up for this.
Ceramides are especially nice to boost the skin barrier. Those lipids keep the outer layers of the skin hydrated and are important as a barrier against trans epidermal water loss. The whole thing reads ‘bring out the big guns’ to me: Vitamin C and retinol are key players when it comes to anti-aging, especially fighting against signs of anti-aging, while ceramides and peptides strengthen and boost the skin. The effect is a clearer, more youthful appearance of your skin. It’s expensive, but keep in mind that you get 50ml, and wait for discounts. For me, it’s worth it. ($58, here.)
Honorary mentions
Resist Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF50
The one anti-aging skincare product? Sunscreen. You can basically throw money out of your bathroom window if you’re only using anti-aging potions and lotions and don’t use sunscreen – same effect. If you’re a sunscreen hater, try this one. Sure, the (chemical) filters are rather old-fashioned, but the formulation of this really light-weight and thin fluid makes it up for it. (Here’s Astrid’s review of it.)
In the end, the most effective sunscreen is the one you really enjoy wearing, and this one is a gem. It’s playing well with makeup, sinks in quickly and even my sunscreen-hating husband wears it without grumbling (and it has earned its spot in my skincare routine). ($33 for 60 ml, here.)
Resist Anti-Aging Eye Gel
A few years ago, PC had to bite themselves in the ass and revert their formerly stout message of ‘we don’t need a special eye cream’ to ‘hey, guys, you really like wearing a special eye cream, so we’re now selling it’! Aaaaaaaawkward. But still, their eye gel especially is very pleasant to use. It’s lightweight and soothing, but not really for you if you need the big guns (super dry skin, wrinkles, puffiness).
I like it as a daytime moisturiser as it plays well with concealer, and includes nice ingredients like hydrating hyaluronic acid, a lot of antioxidants and peptides, and soothing stuff like liquorice extract. It’s inoffensive and a great gel for younger folks with little issues. (The eye CREAM, though, is a very different animal and a lot thicker.) It’s very possible to get a similarly effective product for less. ($34 for 15ml, here.)
Paula pros
- Science-driven brand.
- No alcohol, no fragrance.
- Easy to combine in a routine – all products go together.
- Easy to order samples and mini sizes.
- Open communication: easy to find out about concentrations of actives and pH.
- No one-trick-ponies, but rather well rounded formulas.
- Cruelty-free
Paula cons
- Difficult to get into (masses of products and product lines) – I hear their CS is really helpful.
- A lot of products include silicones – that might be a deal breaker for some people.
- A lot of products are very similar or outright the same (for example: PC4Men Soothe + Smooth is identical to Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment 2% BHA/ Clear Extra Strength 2%BHA Peeling is identical to the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Peeling).
- Expensive – check for discount codes!
Please note that this review is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods, or money, for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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