anyone familiar with Paula's Choice products?

froggerng

I just bought a bunch of samples from the Paula's Choice website, and I was wondering what any of you thought about it. I'm still pretty young, but I think it's time I start some kind of actual skin care regimen. I have super-super oily skin, but I don't break out too much unless it's that time, if ya know what I mean... I have been enjoying her BHA products!

jiyun0620

I know somebody living in New York City who has been using Paula's Choice since I've known her, she's pretty satisfied by the products and she especially loves the products with Benzoyl Peroxide, such as Weightless Body Treatment and Blemish Fighting Lotion, she says that it really fights acnes and pores, that's all I know about! Hoping to see your comments on them!

Judy

Yup...I do use some of Paula Begoun's products. Mostly the anti-oxidant concentrate as a boost for my moisturizer. I also have been using her BHA lotion which I can't really tell if it is working but it certainly does no harm.

Her products are no-nonsense, no frills, and reasonably priced. I do try to buy when she has specials like free shipping.

AND most of all I DO trust her products to be fairly labeled and not-overhyped as to what they will do. In the beauty world that is rare.

froggerng

That's one of the things that I find most attractive about her line- simple, straightforward packaging, no hype, no "extra" ingredients (although I would like a teensy amount of fragrance), and of course, all the info on her website. I've been using up my 2% BHA samples, and my skin does seem more refined. Thanks for your input!

Judy

I agree about the fragrance but Paula is very anti-fragrance because of skin irritation it can cause. However that's no reason not to buy aromatic products that don't cause irritation...scent is one of life's great pleasures.

I forgot that i did try a lipstick from Paula and I don't know whether I left it my purse on a hot day but it broke off...sigh! Otherwise it was fine.

Left Brain

I like Paula and what she's trying to do. I actually met her some years back and she was really nice. I haven't tried her products but I'm sure they are good quality.

The only problem with her products is that it makes you question the unbiased reliability of her reviews. I wonder how she resolves the fact that sales of her own products can be boosted by giving a competitor's reviewed product a lower rating. This is why you won't see a cosmetic line by the Beauty Brains no matter how much Sarah wants to make one.

Judy

I too have wondered how Paula's Choice products can be any MORE effective than other brands but it seems to me that the way she earns her "street cred" is that she doesn't make outlandish/false claims about her products...she uses words like "exceptional" but nothing too effusive. She tries to keep it simple and unlike other "prestige" lines doesn't overprice her stuff so that you will think they MUST be good if they cost so much.

I think her reviews seem pretty even-handed since she does give kudos to products whose ingredients are proven to be effective and are honestly labeled and priced. I particularly like when she does the Drugstore Doubles comparisons.

Last week she was having subscribers answer a questionaire about the web site so perhaps she has some changes in store. It must be hard to market products when you don't have cute packaging and slogans.

ozinn

I love her products. My skin is sooooo hard to deal with. It was like half-dry, half-oily, sometimes zitty, sometimes flaky, and always frustrating. But really, a lot of the problems I had were just caused by me and the dumb things I was using on my skin and products I thought were helping. I got her books and after a while, decided to try her products. I'm so glad I did. I only use a few of the Paula's Choice products on a daily basis right now, but so far I've been really pleased with everything I've gotten.

BHA products: I've tried gel, lotion, and solution forms of the 2% BHA and they all work great. The gel is hard to wear under make-up, though, so I just used that at night for a while. The solution and the gel are a little bit more drying than the lotion, so I finally have settled on the lotion. Works like a dream -- my pores look great and my skin's texture is really smooth.

Anti-oxidant concentrates: I use the standard Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum as my daily moisturizer and it's really nice. It's light-weight, seems to provide the right amount of moisture without being greasy. So nice.

Blemish Fighting Solution: This stuff has pretty much killed off all my acne. My skin rarely breaks out now, it's amazing. If you've got "adult" acne, you totally need this stuff. It kills the bacteria, but doesn't dry out your face or make it look irritated.

Sunscreens: I like her sunscreens ok. I've tried both the moisturizing and the "non-greasy" versions and they both leave my face kind of shiny. I don't mind, since I usually stick some loose powder over it anyway. And they aren't waterproof, which isn't helpful if you're at the beach or playing sports or whatever. So yeah, they're ok, not stunning.

Anyway, if you are considering ordering from her, give it a shot. I tried a toner from her once too, but didn't like it and sent it back. They were totally cool about refunding my money for that.

Mactans

I've followed Paula's advice since I read "Blue Eyeshadow Should Be Illegal" in '93; I've used her One-Step Cleanser and 2% BHA Solution for about 3 years now. My skin feels fabulous, my monthly breakouts are almost non-existent, and people regularly guess my age at early-to-mid 30's instead of my actual 42.

I like the fact that she never claims her products are better than others, just another good option for you to choose from. She also makes it pretty clear that you may love a product she doesn't like, or hate a product she thinks is good... everyone's skin is different.

Karen

Thanks, everyone, for your posts here. I use one of her books as a reference guide and like her website so I've been tempted to try her products, as well, and are feeling more confident about doing so.

Left Brain: Poor Sarah, always being treated like a "second-class citizen" on this site. Can't you let her get her way once in a while?...lol

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