Paula's Choice Hydrating Treatment Mask review

 

I came across this "mask" while I was on their website to refill on more of their popular leave-on exfoliant. 

My skin has been quite dry lately and since I am very impressed with their exfoliate I decided to give this mask a try. I haven't heard of it prior and there seems to be no mention of this product from other skincare specialists. 

This is a hydrating treatment mask that contains Borage oil. According to stylist.co.uk, "Borage oil treats all kinds of skin inflammation including eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and rosacea. It is also good if your skin feels dry as it is calming, nourishing, and redness-erasing prowess. It's also useful in helping calm acne and it's lighter than many other oils so won't leave your face feeling greasy."

This mask claims to hydrate dry, flaky skin, fortifies the protective moisture barrier, and calms and soothes sensitive skin. It is listed under their "Skin Recovery". Paula's Choice also recommends it as a good hand hydrating mask (but I didn't/haven't feel/felt the benefits of it).

Directions 

Use on clean skin. Apply a generous layer all over the face and neck. Leave on overnight as your last step in your skincare routine. Use as often as needed.

I have been using this mask (sometimes I use it as a moisturizer and almost every night as a leave-on mask) for almost 4 months and I love it!

Impressions:

• affordable
• calming
• your skin needs to adjust to the texture
• it hydrates your dry skin!
• can be used as a moisturizer/eye cream
• long-lasting (effects last for hours)
• Use around 1 cm of product for the whole face
• very thick, leave-on mask but light-weight (skin absorbs every bit of product)
• no irritation
• softens skin, soothes skin
• non-greasy

When I first started using this mask, my skin felt uncomfortable with the thickness and consistency, it took around 2 weeks till my skin was able to adjust and became comfortable with the consistency and properly absorbed the product. 

I noticed it would dry out some smaller pimples and acne within 1-2 uses.  I use it as an overnight leave-on mask, and my skin feels very plump and hydrated the next day. There was a tiny wrinkle on my skin (prior to using this mask) and this mask took it out within 2-3 uses!

I have super sensitive skin and this mask/cream did not cause any issues. There was absolutely no irritation, but my skin had to adjust to the thickness of "learning how to absorb it properly". 

I am super happy I found this product and it is also one of Paula's Choice's more affordable products.

Score: 10/10
Website: https://www.paulaschoice.com/skin-recovery-hydrating-treatment-mask/280.html

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant review

Known as the holy grail for most skincare enthusiasts, and perhaps the product that got you to research and know about Paula's Choice, this Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, leave on skin exfoliant is one of the best skin care products you can get for your skin. 

I am no less, but also in the same boat. I have not heard of Paul's Choice till this product. It is listed as step three (There are five steps: 1. Cleanse, 2. Tone, 3. Exfoliate, 4. Treat, and 5. Moisturize) so this is step is placed after your toner and before your serum. 

 Impressions:

• no scent, but there is a very very light acidic smell
• leaves your T-zone (and any part of the oilier areas of your face) oily
• makes your skin very very soft (since it is an exfoliant)
• must use twice a day (to see and maintain results)
• causes your more sensitive skin (e.g. acne-prone, eczema, etc) with a slightly uncomfortable irritating tingly feeling
• consistency is slightly thicker than water, a bit similar to toners
• they recommended using this on the face and neck, but I didn't feel any significant changes to the skin on my neck after using it for 2 weeks...

I love this product! My skin loves it... and I saw visible results within days of using it. Please be aware that your more sensitive skin (acne areas, eczema, and thinner skin areas) will have a slightly irritating tingly feeling (but that should go away within a few minutes). Also, be aware that it will leave the oilier parts of your face (e.g. t-zone area) much oilier. The oiliness doesn't produce acne or anything concerning, it just looks very shiny.

Make sure you use this product twice a day to see results... there were days where I only used it once and my skin did not see as good results (as in, my skin wasn't as smooth as it would have been if I had used it twice a day).

Also, since you are exfoliating your skin, it will definitely be more sensitive to the sun, so if you are using this in the daytime, make sure to follow up with a moisturizer and some sunscreen.

score: 9.5/10
website: https://www.paulaschoice.com/skin-perfecting-2pct-bha-liquid-exfoliant/201.html