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Original poster

Anyone rate Paula's choice?

27 replies

Bodicea · 24/04/2014 10:31

Stumbled on her website whilst looking into a new skin care regime.
She basically slags off most of the products have ever used. Gulp!! Should I take with a pinch of salt? - I look ok for my age so can't be that bad!!

Anyway thought about giving her stuff a go as the reasoning behind it seems sound.

OP posts:
squoosh · 24/04/2014 10:43

I know lots of people who rave about her products, especially the AHA and BHA gels. She does slag a lot of people off though!

conquita · 24/04/2014 10:52

She slags off most of the products I use and think are wonderful! i.e Eve Lom, Origins - Dr Weil, L'occitaine etc.

dorathedestroyer · 24/04/2014 10:52

I'd also love to know the answer to this! She's pretty scathing about most of the recommended by dermatologists French pharmacy products I've been using to keep my rosacea in check. What put me off ordering her own range at once was the hefty price difference between the US and UK pricing. I might give the moisturiser a try, but £165-odd for the full range seems a bit steep, compared with $93 for the same thing on the US site, even with taxes.

(Disclaimer: I am quite mean.)

squoosh · 24/04/2014 10:55

I think she sells sample kits on her website.

EyelinerQueen · 24/04/2014 11:00

I'd never heard of her so just googled.

I think I'll pass on taking skin care advice from someone whose face appears to be 99% plastic Hmm.

Floisme · 24/04/2014 11:11

I agree EyelinerQueen, assuming the photos are of Paula herself. There is no over-the-counter skin product that makes you look like this: www.paulaschoice.com/who-we-are/about-paula/

fridgepants · 24/04/2014 11:23

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the user's request.

Floisme · 24/04/2014 11:30

I'm deeply sceptical about anyone working in the beauty industry. I tend to start from the basis that they're all lying to us. However I didn't read the blog and, if she has been open about cosmetic surgery then I'll cut her some slack. What I really can't stand is when women pretend it's all down to good genes and grandmother's cold cream.

dorathedestroyer · 24/04/2014 11:57

I've done her a disservice: it's 'only' £138.85 for the full set that costs $93 in the US. The sample kit is £64.05.

squoosh · 24/04/2014 11:59

Out of stock at the moment but there are samples here for £3

www.paulaschoice.co.uk/shop/samples

dorathedestroyer · 24/04/2014 12:10

Ah, missed that, thank you! Will give it a try when it's back in stock.

Tigerlily14 · 24/04/2014 16:25

I've always had spotty skin since being a teenager. It was even worse after having kids, had awful cystic acne along my jaw line. I've tried everything over the years and I stumbled across her website in desperation. Got the 2% bha gel, some resist aha lotion and the hydralight moisturiser in November. Now my skin is totally clear, not a single spot anywhere. The difference in my skin is amazing so I'm pretty evangelical about her products now! Obviously everyone's skin is different (and mine totally weird! ) so what works for me might not necessarily work for everyone, and it depends what you are looking for, but I pretty much love her for sorting out my face!

ocelot41 · 24/04/2014 19:28

Marking my place - I saw this and thought hmmmm....

Original poster
Bodicea · 24/04/2014 21:22

Thanks for replies. Still not 100% thinking of trying one of the serums and a day cream with SPF and see how I get on from there.

Also might try the other brands she reccomends. There are a few surprises there.

OP posts:
safetyzone · 25/04/2014 23:56

I (used to) have spotty skin and love her products. The range for acne skin is great for me. I mix up with other brands she rates, I think the science behind her recs is sound.

Clint88 · 26/04/2014 00:04

I wanted the bha gel but thought the website seemed a bit insecure when it came to payment so didn't bother, am I missing a miracle?

cutsnake · 27/04/2014 01:57

I've been using Paula's Choice for about 6 months now, and its made a big difference to my red skin (I use the Skin Recovery range). I find the products to be good value, as the sizes are generous and last a long time.

My teenage DD has pimples and was feeling very bad about herself, so I bought her the anti-acne kit, and her skin has cleared up a lot.

I haven't had any problems with payment, and service has always been really good. So I'm a fan. I'm not in the US but I buy from the US site, even with postage I find it works out as better value and the range is better than my local site (Australia).

I think Paula is pretty realistic about what cosmetics can achieve, I recall one review saying that the claims made by the product were like "saying that toothpaste can deliver the same results as root canal work".

Kundry · 27/04/2014 12:16

I was recommended Paula's Choice by a friend who raved about it. However she did say never ever to watch one of her videos as she is the most annoying woman on the planet - she wasn't wrong Grin

The science holds water (AHA, BHA, retinol, SPF are the basis of most of it) and she is realistic about what can be achieved and doesn't over claim.

I'm using the 2% BHA lotion and it's revolutionised my skin - plus the amount is enormous, even using it twice a day it will last me all year.

The ingredient directory and best lists (on the main US website) are helpful for picking out other cheaper products as well. Obviously she rates all her products as best but she explains why she does and doesn't rate other brands and products. She also makes it plain that your skin doesn't know you've stuck to one brand so why should you.

I'm now just as evangelical as my friend about it.

Clint88 · 29/04/2014 09:41

Ooh Kundry can you tell me more about the BHA lotion? How did you choose which one was right for you and what improvements have you seen? Itchy credit card now...

seabream · 29/04/2014 09:46

I have cyctic acne, and have used probably every product available including prescription only stuff, I've only stopped short of Accutane as the side effects scare me.
Paula's choice 8% AHA gel is the only thing that has ever worked. Ever. It isn't actually as expensive as Dermalogica, and I think it is better by far.

Kundry · 29/04/2014 20:43

Hi Clint88

I think the website recommended a gel texture for oily/combination skin and a lotion for normal/dry skin.

So being an idiot I ordered the lotion by mistake Blush

I can't remember why it suggested 2% instead of 1% but any 2% is what I've got.

The first difference was that the oil on my T-zone disappeared. I hadn't really thought I had oily skin until it vanished and I realised how bad it had been!

The second difference was that all the spots across my forehead dried up and I stopped making new ones.

A couple of deep spots that had been around for ages not coming to a head slowly started to disappear.

And then the blackheads on my nose all disappeared and that's it!

A couple of spots suddenly came out as I settled into the new regime but now I don't have any at all. I'm using Cetaphil as a cleanser (Paula's recommendation that cleanser is the least important step so I didn't buy hers Smile), could happily go without moisturiser but am using a SPF moisturiser in the day.

All the changes and drying up happened in under a fortnight. If I'd known it was this easy I'd have done it YEARS ago - I've bought loads of face scrubby things and clay masky things over the years as I thought that was how you exfoliated, how wrong could I be? Best exfoliation ever with a gentle cleanser and a lotion.

Clint88 · 01/05/2014 05:57

Ooooooh. Definitely going to buy some now and see what it does for me! That's what I want to happen :)

HowsTheSerenity · 15/07/2014 00:11

I know it's an old thread but I hopped on MN this morning to rave about the products.
I've been using a variety (bha, vit c, a serum) of products for two weeks and my skin has never looked better. This all while on fertility drugs.
I buy from the USA site (I'm in Australia too) and it's cheaper then some similar products here.

violetbunny · 15/07/2014 09:10

Love Paula's Choice. I swear by the BHA lotions and moisturisers with SPF30 (she does a great one for my oily skin).

JustGettingStarted · 26/11/2016 15:32

Hello zombie thread!

I have used Olay Regenerist stuff because Paula rates it highly. And it does work. I am just fed up with the confusing product line and constant changes. I would go back to rebuy and the product would no longer be there. Instead there's some new version and I don't know if it's as good. Confusion compounded by the fact that the products sold in America often have different names and those are the ones reviewed.

I am so fed up that I want to just replace it all by going straight to the products made by PB.

I will stick with the Regenerist Day Lotion that has an SPF of 30. I figure, as long as they're still selling it, may as well stick with it.

I have replaced what was a good night time glycolic serum (Olay got bored with it I guess) with a Nip and Fab glycolic serum. I also use the Nip and Fab pads so no need for a toner.

I am happy with Superdrug Hot Cloth Cleanser.

I guess I want to replace the daytime Regenerist serum and the Regenerist night creme. I don't think I really need a thicker cream for night. I just don't see the point of spf at night.

Which products would be good then? What is that "booster" thing all about? Should I get a retinoid product for the night time routine?

I have to say that I am a bit disappointed in the website. They don't give you a whole lot of information about the ingredients beyond the title and no advice on how to use the products together.