Paula's Choice Anti-Aging Skincare Review

If there's one thing I trust Paula's Choice with, it's anti-aging skincare. The brand has always done very well with making sure they add anti-aging ingredients in most if not all of their skincare. When it comes to targeted anti-aging products, the ingredients are backed up with research. The formulas are stabilized and the packaging is not exposed to light or air. Paula's Choice doesn't do jars for anti-aging skincare which I like because I know the air-sensitive ingredients that make the product effective won't start deteriorating. Your money is not being flushed down the drain on ineffective product

Although i'm in my early 20s, i've always heard it's not a bad idea to start with anti-aging products sooner rather than later. Not only that but often times the same ingredients that are in anti-aging skincare are also good for fading dark spots or Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH). Think retinol, vitamin c, niacinamide aka B3, hyaluronic acid etc. Yes, the process will be slow (and maybe even hard to notice) but using product infused with anti-aging ingredients has to be better than just using basic emollient ingredients.

Below I have an assortment of anti-aging skincare products from the company. 

1% Retinol Booster

What it is in their words:

A concentrated, pure form of retinol in a slow-release delivery system with a light fluid lotion texture. It also includes a superior assortment of potent antioxidants to help produce the most beautiful appearance for your skin imaginable. This lightweight, concentrated booster with 1% retinol helps to even skin tone, renew radiance, brighten skin, improve the appearance of wrinkles and create a smooth complexion.

First few ingredients:

Water (Aqua)

Glycereth-7 Triacetate (emollient/texture-enhancing)

Glycerin (hydration/skin replenishing)

Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes (emollient/skin-soothing)

Isopentyldiol (hydration)

Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate (texture-enhancing)

Butylene Glycol (hydration)

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract (apple extract/antioxidant)

Polysorbate 20 (texture-enhancing)

Retinol (skin-restoring)

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract (licorice extract/skin-soothing)

Ceramide 3 (hydration/skin replenishing)

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (skin-restoring)

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract (oat extract/skin-soothing)

Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract (fireweed extract/skin-soothing)

Arctium Lappa Root Extract (burdock root extract/skin-soothing) 

Thoughts:

I really like the feel of this booster. It's texture is like a watery lotion. It dries down fast to be a super lightweight, slightly rubbery feel. It's a great texture, oily skinned people online love it. You can use it alone or mix it with your moisturizer of serum. I like to apply it to bare skin because I feel it will be more effective that way. Because it's a retinol, you need to make sure you apply SPF 25 or greater. It smells faintly of a sour fruit probably from the apple extract. The scent is undetectable on skin. My skin is sensitive and has no reaction to this at all. Definitely think it's worth looking into. They also have other retinol products on their site.

10% Niacinmide Booster

This concentrated 10% niacinamide serum booster dramatically improves uneven skin tone and refines the appearance of pore size, skin texture and fine lines. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, which research has proven can reduce the appearance of enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, wrinkles, and dry skin. The light-as-water texture is designed to dramatically enhance your skincare while also providing soothing agents to promote visibly calm skin. Antioxidants and skin-replenishing ingredients make this product a multi-tasking must-have solution for all skin types. The results after only a few days will impress you.

First few ingredients:

Water (Aqua)

Niacinamide (vitamin B3, skin-restoring )

Acetyl Glucosamine (skin replenishing/antioxidant)

Ascorbyl Glucoside (vitamin C/antioxidant)

Butylene Glycol (hydration)

Phospholipids (skin replenishing)

Sodium Hyaluronate (hydration/skin replenishing)

Allantoin (skin-soothing)

Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract (skin-soothing)

Glycerin (hydration/skin replenishing)

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (skin-soothing)

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract (licorice extract/skin-soothing)

Ubiquinone (antioxidant)

Epigallocatechin Gallate (antioxidant)

Vitamin B3 is the most concentrated ingredient next to water in this formula. This product also contains vitamin C (Ascorbyl Glucoside), licorice extract and other antioxidants as well as skin soothing and moisturizing ingredients. The vitamin C is fourth on the ingredient list which I like as I have found my skin does become brighter when using it.

Thoughts: 

This booster is water thin and dries down to a tacky finish. There is a mild licorice and vitamin scent to it. Because Paula's Choice is so confident about the magical powers of vitamin B3, I took a week to use only this product and check in on any difference in pore size. I know this product comes with other benefits but it's main one is reduction in pore size.

I have lager pores in my t-zone and have been using this there. Initially I used this on my forehead but my forehead has been breaking out so easily from everything so I stopped putting product there. I haven't noticed much of a reduction in the size of my pores yet so I don't find the statement ''the results after only a few days will impress you'' to be true for me at all. Regardless I think this is worth looking into as a long term treatment for large pores. If not, this product is also intended to reduce uneven skin tone, lack of radiance, rough surface skin texture, redness, and dryness

CLINICAL Ceramide-Enriched Firming Moisturizer

What it is in their words:

A combination of ceramides, plus retinol and vitamin C, in one moisturizer for dramatically younger-looking skin. This is the first formulation with our CollagenSupport Complex, which acts as a binding agent to keep the outer layers of skin hydrated and resilient. Fortify skin’s protective barrier with concentrated ceramides to visibly smooth wrinkles, renew a firmer feel, and enhance moisture balance for plumper skin.

First few ingredients:

Water (Aqua)

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (vitamin C/antioxidant)

Cetyl Alcohol (texture enhancer)

Ascorbyl Glucoside (vitamin C/antioxidant)

Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate (texture enhancer)

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate (emulsifier), Glyceryl Stearate (emollient)

PEG-100 Stearate (texture enhancer)

Glycerin (skin-replenishing)

PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate (hydration)

Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2 (emollient)

Dimethicone (emollient)

Glyceryl Ascorbate

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (vitamin C/antioxidants)

Retinol (vitamin A/skin-restoring)

Ceramide NP

Ceramide NS

Ceramide AP

Ceramide EOP

Ceramide EOS

Thoughts:

This lightweight cream feels more like a lotion. Rubbing it into skin, it has an effortless slip. It sets to lightweight, tacky feel. I wouldn't say it's the best for very dry skin. It's works good under foundation. There is a yellow tiny to it that I don't notice on my pale skin. It has a smell that's so hard to describe. 1 part spic, 1 part natural, 1 part alcohol (dont worry, there's no bad alcohols). The smell does stay on skin but does change and dissipate. Overall, I really like it.

*pr sample