Paula's Choice Skincare Samples - review

  In the photo above you see a few of Paula's Choice skincare sample packets. At the top, in the blue packet is the Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleaner. On the left, the red and white packet is the Clear Acne Fighting Treatment and the 2 packets beside it are the 1 and 2% Skin Perfecting BHA Lotions.

  First, I'll talk about the Skin Perfecting BHA Lotion. Just incase you're not aware of what BHA is and what it does, I'll give a brief overview. BHA stands for Beta Hydroxy Acid.I'm so fascinated by how this works. I've used every drugstore acne meds since I was a teen and even used a product called Nature's Cure which is these acne pills and cream and it stopped working shortly after beginning usage. I've tried everything and never had my face take such a drastic change so quickly and to be honest it has never looked so healthy. I will absolutely be puchasing a full size of the BHA Lotion! Now onto that brief overview...

  
BHA Helps with hormonal breakouts, lightens skin, prevents and rids blackheads, minimizes pores, gives a clean face, fades scars, rosacea, exfoliates majorly, gentle but can sting if you're overly sensitive. BHA is the best thing for severe acne, adult acne and teen acne. I've even heard some say it helped with their millia!

What's so strange to me is that my skin is suddenly near perfect with no signs of recent products use. You know how you use an intense cream for acne and you peel like crazy or have severe tightness/dryness? With one use of this stuff it's like I suddenly have a different face!  Using a lotion with BHA rather than cleanser or other product is a better choice since Beta Hydroxy Acid needs to be absorbed into the skin in order for it to improve your skin. Beta Hydroxy works as an exfoliant. It's neat to me that Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting BHA Lotion isn't gritty, but smooth and creamy and yet it still exfoliates.

It sloughs away dead skin cells which in turn makes room for immediate regrowth of new, glowy skin. Beta Hydroxy is also said to improve aging, rough skin, even pigmentation, and more. Beta Hydroxy Acid penetrates the skin to truly clean dirt, oil, etc. from pores where as most cleasners only clean the surface and a lot won't even clean the makeup from the surface of your skin! Ick! 

I won't use a cleanser that doesn't at least clean makeup off. If you want to know if your cleanser is actually making it to your pores and cleaning, wash your face as you normally would and wash well! When it dries take a damp muslin cloth  and gently swipe over the cheeks in circular motions. Look at the cloth. If you see the color of your foundation, bronzer, blush or powder then you can be sure that your cleanser is not doing his or her job!

ALWAYS be careful when using BHA as it increaes your skins sensitivity to the sun. Even if you aren't prone to sun burns you should avoid using BHA if you're going to be exposed to the sun for more than a few moments. It can also cause scarring from pigment changes so be very careful! From my research on BHA, I've learned that those with darker skin are more prone to this. I am careful not to use this daily just to be on the safe side. These are only a couple of reasons why it's a good idea to start off with a 1% BHA lotion rather than 2%. You can work your way up to 2%, but I still use 1% occasionally. You can get the Skin Perfecting BHA lotion from Paula's Choice in both 1% and 2% BHA. 

  
  Love the BHA!
Upond using the Skin Perfecting BHA Lotion I didn't have extremely high hopes, but after only hours of my first application I noticed a big, big, big change! My face looked so much like it did when I was a kid. My small forhead breakouts vanished and I knew there was much more benefits to come with continued use. 

I noticed my pores were drastically smaller, hardly noticable and my skin was left with a slight glow, no greasyness and no residue. It looked just the way a child's skin looks. I have slight under the skin bumps around my jaw and I've seen an improvement in those lately as well! They're a pain to get rid of. 


I've heard people say BHA irritates their skin, but it doesn't mine and Paula's Choice BHA Skin Perfecting Lotion hasn't irritated mine either. I've heard some with extremely sensitive skin may experience slight burning, but I don't know many who have experienced that. I have no dryness and haven't even needed my regular moisturizer. However, I did notice my skin turning a lighter color. I've limited my use due to this and worries of pigmentation changes causing scars. Speaking of scars... ALL of mine are gone! Gone! There were only a few on my right cheek from a random breakout that left scars and made me feel awful about my skin. They weren't deep and with use of tons of different products they would appear smaller for a short period of time, but it actually seems that they're gone for good!

I would recommend this for anyone with acne scarring or even with hormonal breakouts or just regular old pimples.

It's also a God-send for blackheads and we all know those are a pain to get rid of.





   Resist Optimal Resulst Hydrating Cleanser
  
  The Resist Optimal Resulst Hydrating Cleanser is a rich, but light weight, creamy cleanser that takes away dirt, oil and even waterproof mascara! I've tried everything for my waterproof mascara and nothing works! I end up soaking my eyes with a warm washcloth and then just having to pull my darn eyelashes out to get the mascara off! I've had to use lash growing stuff because of it! I've used everything out there to remove it and nothing worked. I've used Clinique's highly overpriced "makeup remover" it would wipe some off, but then it'd be permanantly smeared under my eyes giving me the 'I haven't slept in days-raccoon eyes look' I've ordered stuff specifically for waterproof makeup. No use.

  Tonight while showering I dreaded trying to get that mascara off, but knew I had to since it'd been on my lashed for 2 days (I couldn't get it off!) Lol. I was so frustrated I looked around the bathroom and spotted the one thing I haven't tried. The Resist Optimal Results Cleanser. I squeezed some from the packet and smeared on my lashes. I used a washcloth and with a little massaging of my lashes, it came right off! Amazing! 

  Besides removing impossible mascara, Resist Optimal Hydrating Cleanser also a good every day facial cleanser and gives a nice moisure boost. Since my skin is very dry, I did feel a tiny need to use a dab of moisturizer after using this cleanser, but it wasn't necessarily needed. It does a great job of moisturizing without leaving a nasty greasy residue behind. My skin is high maintenance and I almost always have to use an exfoliant daily, I started combining the Resist Hydrating Cleanser with my regular exfoliant and it balanced things out and looked wonderful! I didn't expect it to do such a great job at cleaning my face so well, but I love that it takes all the makeup totally off. I hate left behind residues, makeup, etc. It also seemed to give an extra glow when used with the BHA Lotion. 

  There's a whole line of Resist products available. I get overwhelmed with so many products so I prefer sticking with something that has a 2 in one like the Resist Hydrating Cleanser since it hydrates, removes makeup and cleanses. I don't always have time for a cleanser, a seperate make-up remover, a toner, a moisturizer and an anti-ager. Lol. That's just way too much. That's what I call skincare overkill! Lol. What I'm saying here is, whether you choose to go with the full line or not, your skin will benefit. For someone who has already developed wrinkles you may want to consider more than one product from the Resist line, but for someone my age (21) who wants to keep away dark circles, bags, fine lines and prevent wrinkles, this cleanser is a perfect choice. 




            Clear Acne Fighting Treatment

  One of the first Paula's Chocie products I wanted to try was the Clear Acne Fighting Treatment. As I mentioned, I have used it all. I've hardly ever seen results that truly made me feel good about my skin. Some products gave me nice skin for a week, but it never lasted. I've stuck with only 2 favorites for a while now for my skin and I enjoy them, but they don't always keep away my breakouts. 

  Clear Acne Fighting Treatment contains 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. When I decided to use this I was fully prepared to have super dry skin afterward. I even had my super moisturizing cream ready. I wanted to see just how drying this stuff would be and since I had small breakouts scattered here and there I went ahead and smoothed some all over my entire face! I was really impressed to find no dryness or even tightness or irritation. However, I did have only tee-tiny specks of dried out breakouts! I was in good shape by the next morning. Since then, I've dabbed it on the tiny under the skin bumps around my cheeks and temples and never had another come up! It minimized my pores too. I'm kind of torn between this and the BHA Lotion since I had such great results with both. I would highly recommend this to anyone with acne and epecially for teen acne.  

  Since it contains Benzoyl Peroxide it can irritate the skin, but it's a very gentle treatment. I've not had irritation. If you've used benzoyl peroxide before and never had irritation then this shouldn't bother you. If you're unsure, you can always do a patch test on your wrist before using on the face. Even if you are sensitive to it a lot of times the sensitivity and irritation will subside after a few uses. 

  It leaves no greasy residue behind! It leaves a soft, matte finish that looks almost as if I've applied a primer to my face. I would even use this for too much shine. It's not a thick paste that leaves you with a chalky spot. It's actually runny and goes on easily. A little goes a long way, but for very inflamed acne, it's best to apply, let dry and apply again a couple times. Layering it over a bad pimple will help reduce the inflammation, redness and make it go away much quicker.