From the pore-reducing toner to the moisturizing oil booster.
With such a wide array of skincare brands to choose from, it can be hard to know which is right for you. But Paula’s Choice is one brand that we consider truly unique: it’s mainstream enough that you—or someone you know—has probably used one of its products, but it’s still somewhat niche. It also has an under-the-radar cult-like following. Originally founded in 1995 by Paula Begoun, this Seattle-based company set out to create effective skincare formulated with scientifically-backed ingredients that weren’t known to cause irritation. So, it’s no surprise that ingredients remain at the heart of this brand—everything is free of dyes, fragrances, phthalates, and other common nasties.
To find Paula’s Choice items worthy of your time and money, our team of product testers, editors, and dermatologists tested dozens of products for weeks at a time to give you this definitive list of the most effective Paula’s Choice products.
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
This is the brand’s number one product worldwide, and if we absolutely had to choose, ours too. Why, you ask? It’s a unique leave-on exfoliator, made with a 2% concentration of salicylic acid, to unclog pores and clear your complexion and it really, really works.1 Still, it’s gentle enough that it can be used twice daily and also absorbs super quickly thanks to a lightweight, lotion texture.
Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster
Given the quality of Paula’s Choice products, we say that the Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster lives up to its gold standard in how it hydrates and brightens skin. And there’s no denying that vitamin C gets an A+ in the skincare world, offering everything from antioxidant protection to collagen-boosting properties to spot-fading abilities.2 Here, you get it in an impressive 15% concentration, but of a stabilized vitamin C that will remain active (the vitamin is notoriously unstable and tricky to formulate with as a result).
And it doesn’t stop there; it’s blended with ferulic acid, another potent antioxidant that works synergistically with vitamin C to up the benefits even further.3 Also nice: You can use this on its own, or mix a few drops in with your moisturizer or serum.
Paula’s Choice RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA
This product hits the perfect balance of effectively and efficiently exfoliating—all without ever stressing out your complexion. Its formula, which contains a combo of salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid, and four alpha-hydroxy acids (glycolic, lactic, malic, and tartaric, to be exact), is designed to dissolve dead cells that leave your skin looking lackluster and uneven.4 At the same time, the product, which features other ingredients such as allantoin, oat extract, and licorice, keeps irritation at bay.
Paula’s Choice Smoothing Primer Serum SPF 30
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, green tea, coffee seed, chamomile | Skin Type: All | Dosage: Pea-sized amount | Size: 0.33, 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
You’ll be hard-pressed to determine what you like most about this multitasker. Is it the silky texture that creates the perfect canvas for foundation? The built-in SPF 30? The protective antioxidants it contains? Happily, there’s no need to choose, since you get all three. It’s a morning routine must-use, whether or not you’re applying makeup over it.
Paula’s Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment
Niacinamide gets major points for its laundry list of benefits, including but not limited to evening skin tone, combatting redness, improving the look of stretched-out pores, and more.8 Not to mention that, unlike many other powerful ingredients, it is generally very well-tolerated by most. This newbie touts the highest concentration to date of the superstar, in a featherweight serum that can help to improve both the texture and tone of your skin.
Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer
Benefits: Protects against environmental damage, hydrates, reduces fine lines and wrinkles | Skin Type: All | Dosage: 1 to 2 pumps | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Another top-seller, this serum is a great universal pick, particularly for anyone dealing with dryness. Rich in Omega 3, 6, and 9 oils for extra hydration, it also touts ceramides, an essential ingredient for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. It’s moisturizing enough to use alone, though lightweight enough to layer under a moisturizer as well (try doing the former in the summer, the latter in the winter).
Paula’s Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer
Active Ingredients: Retinol, potent antioxidant blend | Skin Type: Balanced, dry | Size: 0.33, 1.7 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Anyone who knows their skincare stuff will tell you that the name of this product sounds oxymoronic; retinol and barrier repair usually don’t go hand-in-hand. Yet somehow in this formulation, they do. You get the proven wrinkle-smoothing benefits of retinol, but without the likelihood of irksome side effects (think redness and flaking), thanks to hydrating, barrier-protecting ingredients such as shea butter and ceramides.
Paula’s Choice Weightless Body Treatment
Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, chamomile, green tea, vitamin E | Skin Type: All | Size: 2, 7 oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Oh yeah, did we forget to mention that Paula’s Choice has some awesome body products, too? To take care of the skin below your chin, we especially like this lotion. Like the 2% BHA treatment for the face, this also has salicylic acid. Here, it helps to remove dead, dry skin and leave it silky soft. It’s a great pick for anyone, including those trying to get rid of keratosis pilaris—aka those bumps that can pop up on the backs of your arms.
Paula’s Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster
Benefits: Hydrates, reduces fine lines and wrinkles | Skin Type: All | Dosage: 2 to 3 drops | Size: 0.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Formulated with, you guessed it, hyaluronic acid, one of the best moisturizing ingredients out there, this almost instantly hydrates skin.10 Dab on the gel solo, or mix a few drops into any moisturizer or serum to up the hydrating benefits. And here’s the really nice thing: Hyaluronic acid also has an immediate plumping effect, so this is great for using to help quickly fill in fine lines and wrinkles, like crows’ feet around your eyes.10=
Paula’s Choice CALM Redness Relief Repairing Serum
No matter whether you’re dealing with a condition such as eczema or rosacea, or are just having a temporary redness flare-up, reach for this skin savior. Made with an effective combo of both hydrating and soothing ingredients (lots of antioxidant-rich plant extracts), this option goes to town to quickly tamp down ruddiness and soothe stressed skin. For the best results, use it twice a day, pre-moisturizer.
Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Benefits: Eliminates oil, minimizes pores, hydrates | Skin Type: All | Dosage: A few drops | Size: 6.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Niacinamide stars alongside hyaluronic acid, chamomile, burdock root extract, and ceramide in this powerhouse formula. And when we tested the hydrating, lightweight product on combination skin, we found that once-daily application caused zero irritation (which is saying a lot for a toner). Even better: Our active breakouts started to calm down, hyperpigmentation evened, and the appearance of pores minimized.
Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Treatment with 2 Percent BHA
Benefits: Evens texture, reduces pore size, plumps fine lines, targets hyperpigmentation | Skin Type: All | Dosage: A few drops | Size: 3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Alleviating sun damage, smoothing textured skin, and clearing enlarged, clogged pores sound like a multiproduct job—but Paula’s Choice Daily Pore-Refining Treatment With 2% BHA has it covered in one fell swoop. And we can speak from experience. Yes, we put this product to the test and aren’t exaggerating when we say we noticed results after just one use. Right away, we saw a change in pore size and an added glazed-donut-like glow to our skin. After a while, we didn’t experience irritation (speaking from the POV of combination skin), and we experienced smoother skin texture. Praise aside, we’d advise checking with your dermatologist before giving it a try yourself. Chemical exfoliants are quite potent, especially on sensitive skin, so check that it’s suitable before purchasing and go slow at first.
Paula’s Choice Moisture Renewal Oil Booster
Benefits: Hydrates, soothes irritation, revitalizes dullness, protects skin barrier | Skin Type: Dry | Dosage: A few drops | Size: 0.67 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you can’t take your dry, flaky skin anymore, Paula’s Choice Moisture Renewal Oil Booster may be the holy grail you’ve been looking for. You can use it alone, or easily pair it with your favorite products—like the moisturizer or serum—to help hydrate and soothe your skin. We put the product to the test and love how its lightweight formula absorbs into the skin quickly. After repeated use, we noticed how well this booster calms redness and flakiness. Our tip: a little goes a long way. Apply a few drops to freshly cleansed skin to protect your skin barrier from everyday drying agents.
Paula’s Choice 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer SPF 50
Benefits: Hydrates, sheer finish, brightens, prevents and improves discoloration| Skin Type: All | Dosage: Teaspoon sized for face and neck | Size: 15 mL and 60 mL | Cruelty-Free: Yes
SPF protection and vitamin C are a match made in heaven due to the way they both protect the skin from environmental aggressors—a common cause of skin damage. So, we were super excited when Paula’s Choice added this 5% vitamin C moisturizer, with SPF50 protection, to its already impressive product range. Its sheer, milky texture is very thin but this means it sinks into the skin effortlessly before becoming completely invisible. The added vitamin C also helps to minimize any discoloration or dark spots you may have while brightening the overall complexion. It also works a dream beneath makeup and layers well over other products like your serum and moisturizer.
What to Look for in Paula’s Choice Products
- Skin Type: Knowing your skin type helps determine which types of Paula’s Choice products you should look for. Choose those created for your skin type, whether you have oily, acne-prone, dry, balanced, sensitive, or combination skin. If you have aging skin, products that combat effects such as fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and thinness may be best for you. Avoid aggravating ingredients or ones that may clog your pores if your skin is sensitive or prone to breakouts.
- Active Ingredients: When choosing your ideal Paula’s Choice products, look for active ingredients known to provide the benefits you seek. Some of these tried and true ingredients include salicylic acid, AHAs, retinol, ferulic acid, vitamin C, antioxidants, niacinamide, plant oils, ceramides, and algae. If you are interested in any of the active ingredients you see on Paula’s Choice labels, research them to find out if they can benefit your skin.
- Benefits: When looking for Paula’s Choice products, search for those that provide multiple benefits that appeal to you and suit your needs, and skincare routine, and that you know you’ll actually use. Multipurpose formulas are packed with several highly effective ingredients, saving you money and time.
FAQ
- Is Paula’s Choice dermatologist-approved?Paula’s Choice is dermatologist-approved, being recommended for many years by skin experts and beauty editors alike. The effective, science-backed ingredients used in Paula’s Choice products have helped create a reputable, positive view of the brand.
- What is Paula’s Choice good for?Paula’s Choice is good for all skin types. The wide range of highly effective products can serve everyone in all parts of a skincare routine. Paula’s Choice products can even skin tone, protect against free-radical damage, cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate, boost radiance, and smooth.