Paulas choice whitening essence review năm 2024

Paula‘s Choice is just about as legendary as it gets when it comes to beauty brands. Way before the transparency movement gained mainstream traction, the brand’s founder, Paula Begoun, earned the nickname the Cosmetics Cop for her work as an investigative journalist holding the industry accountable for its marketing myths. Today she still critiques the industry through Beautypedia.com, a hub on her website that reviews other brands’ products.

Begoun launched Paula’s Choice in 1995—when it was one of the first beauty brands ever sold online—and more than 25 years later, its cultlike following hasn’t died down. If anything, you can't scroll for five minutes on Instagram or TikTok without seeing someone raving over its almost too-good-to-be-true before-and-afters, or singing the praises of Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid, a favorite of editors, derms, and bloggers alike for its ability to gently exfoliate but powerfully smooth skin over time.

“Using science-backed ingredients, Paula’s Choice offers treatments that are accessible and affordable,” Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at NYC’s MDCS Dermatology, says of why the brand is so beloved. “There is also transparency and an emphasis on education so you know what ingredients are in the product. Additionally, it is a brand containing a wide range of products to address different skin care concerns and different skin types. ”

It’s true: While you’ll find a long list of ingredients that Paula’s Choice skin care isn’t formulated with, nothing about its marketing is scaremongering or centered around dubious claims. Each product is tailored for specific skin types and concerns, and everything is cruelty-free, fragrance-free, and nonirritating—and all less than $60.

But even with this wealth of information, the brand can be somewhat intimidating since there are so many different formulations and collections to choose from. What does each of the eight lines (such as Resist, Clinical, and Defense) exactly mean? Which of its 17 sunscreens are best for you? We had Glamour staffers with a range of skin types and concerns put the line to the test. Read on for their honest Paula’s Choice reviews of the products that are absolutely worth your money.

All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

• 1/15

  Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

  Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a cult favorite for a reason, and Dr. Garshick, senior commerce editor Talia Abbas, and yours truly are all huge fans. “I’ve dealt with keratosis pilaris on my jawline for years, and the harsh winds and face-mask chafing have irritated my always dry skin even more. For that reason I’ve been on the lookout for an active serum that’ll help me clear up my skin without completely stripping it,” Abbas says. “I settled on this beloved liquid exfoliant after combing through hundreds of positive reviews that hype its ability to clear pores, shed dead skin, smooth fine lines, and even out your skin tone. A month into using this product one to two times a week, I can totally back up the hype. Thanks to its antioxidant-rich green tea and a low concentration of acne-fighting salicylic acid, I’ve finally been able to unclog those small white bumps that have been pestering me for ages. If there’s one product you want to try first from Paula's Choice, this is it.”

  • What we like: Gentle yet effective formula
  • Key ingredients: Salicylic acid Save when you shop the best Paula’s Choice products with these Sephora promo codes.
• 2/15

  Paula’s Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment

  Dr. Garshick recommends the niacinamide treatment as well. “This niacinamide serum works to improve overall skin tone and texture, improving the appearance of the pores. It also contains purslane helping to smooth out the skin,” she says. “Overall it is well tolerated by most skin types, but if too much is used, it can trigger inflammation.” Such has certainly been the case for me—this treatment soothes my rosacea-ridden skin and minimizes the appearance of my pores—and for Glamour contributor Khaliha Hawkins. “My biggest skin care concerns are texture and hyperpigmentation, and this niacinamide serum treats both. It’s become a holy grail product for me during the pandemic owing to its dark-mark fading and texture-refining powers (read more about the benefits of niacinamide here),” Hawkins says. “After each use, my skin has a certain glow to it, and I noticed that other treatments work better when I use this too. Esthetician Sean Garrette recommended this product, and he’s yet to steer me wrong.”

  • What we like: Great for hyperpigmentation
  • Key ingredients: Niacinamide Save when you shop the best Paula’s Choice products with these Dermstore promo codes.
• 3/15

  Paula’s Choice Resist Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA

  Another dermatologist and editor favorite? Paula’s Choice Resist Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA. “This retinol-based body lotion can help to improve skin tone and the appearance of discoloration,” says Dr. Garshick. “It also contains antioxidants to help brighten and protect against free radical damage.” Deputy editor Anna Moeslein is similarly obsessed. “Skin care doesn’t stop at your face, and this exfoliating lotion addresses signs of aging and congestion and acne,” she says. “If you, like me, are frustrated with those annoying red bumps on your legs, then I beg you: Use this lotion. The cream exfoliates with 10% AHAs and hydrates at the same time, leaving your skin feeling soft and smooth. Read ‘No red bumps here.’”

  • What we like: Great for addressing fine lines and acne
  • What we don’t like: Formula can be too strong for some
  • Key ingredients: Retinol, antioxidants Save when you shop the best Paula’s Choice products with these Dermstore promo codes.
• 4/15

  Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

  “My standards for retinol products are high, and this one from the brand’s clinical line, which features its strongest antiaging formulas, checks all the boxes: The 1% retinol concentration strikes exactly the right balance,” says Kimberly Fusaro, executive director of brand marketing. “It’s potent enough that I can tell it’s working but not so strong that it causes visible peeling. The formula is light and absorbs quickly. (When I’m getting ready for bed, the last thing I want is a prolonged wait between skin care steps!) And it incorporates other hardworking ingredients—vitamin C for brightness and licorice extract to prevent redness and irritation—so it does the job of several products in one easy step.”

  • What we like: Great for brightening and mature skin
  • Key ingredients: Vitamin C, licorice root, retinol Save when you shop the best Paula’s Choice products with these Dermstore promo codes.
• 5/15

  Paula’s Choice Clear Purifying Clay Face Mask

  A great clay face mask is a must, but with so many on the market, it can feel impossible to choose just one. Fortunately, Paula's Choice has made that easy. “Using three different clays, this helps to absorb excess oil, controlling shine, while also using green tea and willowherb to calm redness,” Dr. Garshick says of the product.

  • What we like: Great for calming redness and clearing skin
  • Key ingredients: Clay, green tea, willowherb
• 6/15

  Paula’s Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA

  Paula’s Choice Weightless Body Treatment has a whopping 4.7-star rating on Sephora, and it’s not hard to see why. Formulated with 2% salicylic acid (BHA), vitamin E, and chamomile and green tea, this luxurious treatment exfoliates the skin while softening, smoothing, and hydrating at the same time. Using it is my favorite time of the shower, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that it completely eradicated all of my body bumps and acne without irritating my skin. (My husband is also a fan.)

  • What we like: Great for exfoliating, hydrating, and soothing skin on the body
  • Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, vitamin E, chamomile, and green tea Save when you shop the best Paula’s Choice products with these Sephora promo codes.
• 7/15

  Paula’s Choice Resist Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner

  “There are some products whose purpose is clearly defined—moisturizer, mask, cleanser. And then there are other products, like this toner, that justify their existence in your skin care routine because they just feel so damn good to use,” says Glamour contributor Mattie Kahn. “I swipe it on before using serums and moisturizer, and I love the light, bright texture. As part of the Resist line, it’s all about preventing signs of aging over time thanks to niacinamide (which brightens, smooths, and tones) and peptides, which help keep skin firm and bouncy. It makes my skin feel instantly softer, and over time it has helped improve texture and congestion. So no, this stuff isn’t easily categorized. But yes, you should get it.”

  • What we like: Brightens skin and helps even tone
  • Key ingredients: Niacinamide and peptides Save when you shop the best Paula’s Choice products with these Sephora promo codes.
• 8/15

  Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster

  Looking for a vitamin C serum? Paula’s Choice has got you (and your face) covered. “This vitamin C serum pairs L-ascorbic acid with vitamin E and ferulic acid providing antioxidant benefits,” says Dr. Garshick. “This combination helps to stabilize the vitamin C to ensure it is most effective. It also works to brighten the skin and even the skin tone.”

  • What we like: Brightens skin and provides antioxidant protection
  • Key ingredients: L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E, ferulic acid Save when you shop the best Paula’s Choice products with these Dermstore promo codes.
• 9/15

  Paula’s Choice Resist Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum

  “The moment I turned 28, I started noticing a few fine lines around my eyes and felt like I’d aged 100 years. I try not to be too alarmist about signs of aging; as my mother says, getting older beats the alternative. But still, over the past year I’ve gotten more serious about prevention and repair,” says Kahn. “That means sunscreen, obviously, and incorporating a few choice products like this antioxidant concentrate serum. I layer it under my moisturizer in the morning because it’s so lightweight and fast absorbing. The hyaluronic acid gives me a boost of bouncy hydration, niacinamide makes my pores look smaller, and the antioxidants brighten up my skin, especially around my eyes.”

  • What we like: Very hydrating
  • Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide Save when you shop the best Paula’s Choice products with these Dermstore promo codes.
• 10/15

  Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

  Dr. Garshick and Hawkins both swear by the brand’s Azelaic Acid Booster. “Containing a blend of licorice and salicylic acid in addition to azelaic acid, this booster works to reduce redness, even skin tone, fade acne marks,” says Dr. Garshick. “It can be helpful for breakouts and blemishes while also helping to address other texture concerns, and can be used one to two times per day.” Says Hawkins, “I love this line of boosters for when my skin needs a little extra something. You can use them alone as a serum or mixed into other products. With this one, I like adding the azelaic acid to my moisturizer. It really helps with the random blemishes and bumpy texture I sometimes get from my mask, and it’s also incredible at fading dark marks and scars. It also works well for the redness I’ve been getting around my nose lately. Overall, I love a low-maintenance skin care product that packs a punch.”

  • What we like: Great for fading dark spots and calming redness
  • Key ingredients: Azelaic acid Save when you shop the best Paula’s Choice products with these Sephora promo codes.
• 11/15

  Paula’s Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum

  “Anything that says ‘redness relief’ in its name immediately gets my attention, although few really deliver calmer, clearer results like this repairing serum,” says beauty contributor Lindsay Schallon. “The antioxidant-enriched plant extracts and hydrating hyaluronic acid in the formula are gentle enough to use on sensitive skin and even on rosacea (hi, my skin). After paring down my routine to only a cleanser, this, and a ceramide-packed moisturizer for a few weeks, it was like a factory reset for my skin. The redness faded, the dry, inflamed spots smoothed out, and my cheeks gleamed.”

  • What we like: Gentle enough for sensitive skin types, include those with rosacea
  • Key ingredients: Antioxidant-enriched plant extracts and hyaluronic acid
• 12/15

  Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Oil-Reducing Cleanser

  My skin is oily and prone to breakouts, but also simultaneously very sensitive, so oil-combatting face washes tend to be too irritating or drying for my complexion. But at the same time, super-gentle cleansers aren’t strong enough. It was quite the conundrum—at least until I discovered Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Oil-Reducing Cleanser. Somehow this one got it just right, completely cleansing my face of makeup and excess oil without drying it out. My skin feels so soft and amazing after each wash, without all the dreaded excess oil.

  • What we like: Great for all skin types, doesn’t dry you out, gentle formula, soap-free
  • Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
• 13/15

  Paula’s Choice Moisture Renewal Oil Booster

  “This little vial of oil is one of the most versatile workhorses in my regimen,” says contributor Shanna Shipin. “I have super-dry, sensitive skin with a good dose of hormonal acne, so it’s a barrel of fun testing facial oils that might cause breakouts or an eczema flare-up—but there’s no worrying with this oil. It’s a super-gentle, lightweight blend of plant oils that’s loaded with ceramides, so it’s great to use alone (before applying your moisturizer and SPF), or it’s the perfect formula booster for added hydration. I mix in a few drops with my serums and creams (during the very dry months) and often sprinkle some in with my foundation for a dewier look and feel. The best part is a little goes a long way.”

  • What we like: Super hydrating, especially for dry, eczema-prone skin
  • Key ingredients: Ceramides, blend of nine plant-based oils Save when you shop the best Paula's Choice products with these Dermstore promo codes.
• 14/15

  Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel

  I spent years thinking I shouldn’t use moisturizer, convinced that adding hydration to my skin would only make my oiliness worse. I was wrong! Please learn from my mistakes and use one, even if you’re greasy like me! And if such is the case, definitely consider the Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel. It goes on like a super-lightweight second skin, almost like a primer (it’s beautiful underneath makeup), without clogging pores or increasing oil production. It’s an oily girl’s hydrating dream come true.

  • What we like: Lightweight, doesn’t clog pores
  • Key ingredients: Niacinamide

15/15

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel

“I’m a huge fan of the brand’s original BHA exfoliant, so I was really excited to get my hands on this brand-new peel version,” says beauty contributor Bella Cacciatore. “I was not disappointed! A blend of AHAs works on dead skin cells on the surface, while BHAs clear out my pores. Butterfly pea gives it the prettiest purple color and helps soothe and balance out the acid. After one use my skin felt so soft, and I noticed the texture was smoother. And now, after using it once a week for about a month, I’ve noticed fewer whiteheads. It’s a keeper for sure.”

Do dermatologists recommend Paula's Choice?

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.

Why is Paula's Choice so popular?

Founded by Paula Begoun in 1995, the brand has amassed a cultlike following thanks to their collection of powerful skin care products. Paula's Choice uses scientifically backed ingredients and a no BS approach to skin care.

Do Paula's Choice products work?

I think Paula's Choice CALM collection is so fantastic for those who have really red, sensitive skin. This would also be a great option for folks with acne-prone skin. It doesn't treat acne, but it's gentle enough to not irritate or dry out acne on your face. I love that each product is really hydrating and gentle.

Is Paula's Choice safe?

Paula's Choice is committed to providing you with smart, safe, and effective skin care products formulated using only the best, research-backed ingredients.