My hands are very ‘itchy’ when it comes to trying out new skincare products. I will do meticulous research before trying out new products. Skincare products are expensive, and if you have acne prone skin, you cannot just use any products. I will give some tips on what things to look out for in skincare products, specifically cleansers and moisturizers. In previous posts, I reviewed Mad Hippie Vitamin C serum, Mario Badescu Drying Lotion and skin barrier repair products. This post will focus especially on best Paula’s Choice products for acne.
Make Up Remover
Whether it is oil or water-based, I do not think it matters that much. Both clean really well if you choose the right product but it comes down to your preference.
You can try Paula’s Choice Perfect Cleansing Oil for make up remover. As the name suggests, it is oil-based and perfect to remove make up, especially if you are using oil-based make up. Since it is oil-based, it does not disrupt the natural oil layer on your skin in the cleansing process. Instead, it replenishes the skin moisture through its oil-rich ingredients. After you cleanse your skin using this oil, your skin will feel smooth and supple instead of dry and tight. I often feel my skin dry and tight after using some water-based make up remover. So this cleansing oil is one of the best Paula’s Choice products for acne-prone skin to remove makeup.
Facial Cleanser
For acne-prone skin, find low pH cleansers without harsh surfactants like Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulphate. Look out for alcohol as well. Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulphate and alcohol can be drying your skin and can make your skin sensitized. Also, try to understand your skin type before buying cleansers. If you are only oily on the T-zone, don’t use cleansers for oily skin but use the ones for normal skin type.
One of the best cleansers I have used so far is the Paula’s Choice Clear Acne Pore Normalizing Cleanser. It really balanced my skin, not making it oily and not drying it either. It has no smell, the texture is light and it leaves my skin hydrated after. Combined with the Perfect Cleansing Oil, this cleanser is the best Paula’s Choice for cleansing.
Chemical Exfoliator
The only salicylic acid / BHA that works for my skin is Paula’s Choice 2% BHA. This BHA is very good for skin with a lot of clogged pores. After a few days of using this BHA, my pores will unclog themselves. The sebum plugs often get loosened from the pores and go away during the cleansing process. I also use this BHA on my nose where I often have blackheads. I can attest that this BHA works effectively in reducing the appearance of my blackheads and also the size of my nose pores. If your face is oily in some areas and often have clogged pores, try Paula’s Choice 2% BHA and see how it can help to rebalance the oiliness. This is definitely one of the best Paula’s Choice products for acne.
Hydration & Moisturizer
If you are acne prone, you might want to choose moisturizer with lighter texture. Other than that, look out for ingredients like ceramide, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. Ceramide is naturally occurring in our skin and retains moisture in the skin. On the other hand, niacinamide encourages collagen production in the skin and hyaluronic acid is a moisture-binding substance that keeps up collagen synthesis. Read more on best Paula’s Choice products for acne that have these skin barrier repair ingredients.
Before moisturizer, you can use Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster as a serum to boost your skin hydration. Another option that you can use separately, or combined with Niacinamide is Paula’s Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster. Then you can layer your skin with Paula’s Choice Clinical Ceramide-Enriched Firming moisturizer. This one is combined with a low concentration at 0.1% of retinol to help with skin rejuvenation. You can have moisturized and glowing skin at the same time by using this product.
An alternative to the Clinical Ceramide moisturizer is Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel for daytime use. Using a moisturizer that contains retinol is not advisable during the day. This is because retinol will increase your skin photosensitivity. Therefore, during the day, you can use the Invisible Finish Moisture Gel which is light in texture and will give you a nice finish. The last thing you want to have is greasy skin.
Should you try these best Paula’s Choice products for acne?
A resounding yes! Paula’s Choice is one of my favorite skincare brands. Their products are mostly unscented and they use active ingredients that are potent in maintaining healthy skin. It is more expensive than your drugstore products but given the effectiveness, they are worth it. I have been using the above best Paula’s Choice products for acne for years, even now that my skin is much better. They can work on people with active acne and also help those without acne to maintain clear skin.
Learn more about skin health, acne and skincare with me!