Paula’s Choice Products Review & #Giveaway

When it comes to skincare I’m very particular.  I may try a lot of products but I always compare them to Paula’s Choice and ultimately I always revert back to products made by the company.  All of Paula’s Choice products are made based on scientific research and actually do what they say they will do.  I’m consistently impressed with Paula’s Choice products.  This time around, that is an understatement because I was blown away by their new RESIST BHA 9.

Back in December we moved to a new house.  It was around that time that my skin had a flare up.  I’m not sure if it was due to stress, the weather or what but no matter what I did, I couldn’t clear it up.  I had three patches of bumps/blemishes that would turn into dry patches and peel everyday.  I was beginning to think I should see a doctor because I couldn’t tell if it was zits, eczema or something else.  Then I tried the RESIST BHA 9.  I wasn’t expecting results because I had already tried treating the area with BHA with no improvement.   Much to my surprise, I saw immediate results.  Over a period of about a week with nightly treatments the bumps and dryness were completely gone.  My skin however was left with a reddish discolored area.  Continued use of this product has improved the condition and restored it to good condition.  Good things really do come in small packages. Here is a little more information from the site:

RESIST BHA 9 to me is a sort of miracle serum. One pump equals a few drops but goes a long way.  I didn’t find the formula harsh at all which surprised me. I thought my skin would peel but it didn’t. It just got smoother.  The formula feels like an oil and is best used at night after your normal skincare routine.  The normal price of RESIST BHA 9 is $36.95 .  And worth every penny.

I also tried the RESIST Instant Smoothing Anti-Aging Foundation.  While the formulation of this product is nice, the color was a little off for me (I likely ordered the wrong color because it’s hard to tell online).  I was able to make it work by using a finishing mineral powder in my personal shade.  I’ve tried other Paula’s Choice foundations in the past but always prefer something with better coverage.  This new foundation is build-able so you can get something more sheer but apply a second layer for more coverage.  Here’s a little more about the product from Paula’s Choice:

Paula’s Choice All Over Hair & Body Shampoo & Conditioner — There are many people who won’t care for these two products solely based on their lack of fragrance.  Personally, I’ve come to accept that added fragrances can be irritating and understand why some companies choose to leave them out.  I love the shampoo that doubles as a body wash.  Both my hair and my body feel super clean afterwards, without feeling dried out.  The conditioner is one of my favorites.  It makes my hair really soft and best of all, does a great job of untangling and smoothing my long hair.  As a bonus, it also works great as a shaving cream!

Precious few truly fragrance-free conditioners exist, so this one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art conditioner works brilliantly for any hair type but is especially helpful for those with sensitivity to fragrance. Our savvy formula puts Smooth Finish Conditioner in a league of its own. The non-irritating base works as a daily moisturizing and detangling conditioner that leaves even highly-textured, coarse hair looking soft, shiny, and manageable. The silky texture makes it easy to apply and distribute through wet hair and rinses easily so hair never feels limp or greasy. Ideal for those with sensitive, itchy scalps.

Until recently, I haven’t tried Paula’s Choice cosmetics.  In addition to the foundation, I also tried:

Illicit Lash Mascara — I’m on the fence with this one.  I found it somewhat messy to apply but liked the end results.  The applicator wand in combination with the thin/wet formulation of the product didn’t separate lashes but bound them together.  Working with the wand I was able to give my lashes a little more separation but one or two would still stick together.  This actually made my lashes look fuller without looking clumpy.  If you prefer more separated lashes, a lash brush easily separates them.  This formula doesn’t dry very fast so sometimes blinking would transfer the product to my upper eyelid.   It’s easy enough to fix but can be slightly annoying.  Here’s more about the product:

Get ready for sexy, flutter-worthy lashes! Illicit Lash Maximum Impact Mascara instantly defines, separates, and lengthens your lashes. Its specially designed rubber brush easily reaches every lash for perfect coverage, while dramatically emphasizing the base of your lashes. The lightweight formula contains plant-based conditioning agents that keep lashes soft with a subtle, fringed curl. This mascara is 100% fragrance-free, and won’t smudge, flake, or clump.

Sheer Cream lipstick in In The Nude — “In The Nude” is not how I would describe the color of this lipstick at all.  It’s a beautiful shade however it isn’t a light color which I how I think of “nude”.  “In Then Nude” conjures up the natural coloring of lips however this lipstick is darker than any natural lip color I’ve seen.  While I disagree with the name choice of this lipstick, I can’t think of a way to describe it myself.  I also didn’t find the formula very “sheer”. The only word in the name of the lipstick I found truth in was “cream”.  The lipstick goes on smooth and creamy. It’s staying power is good and doesn’t dry out the lips.  It is very difficult to grasp the true color of these lipsticks from the pictures on the website.  Bonus: SPF 15!

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