My Paula’s Choice Skin Care Routine

You know those people who can use little to no skin care products, rinse daily, and have a clear and even complexion? Yeah… I’m not one of those people. As you’ve seen from some of my other skin care updates, it takes a lot to keep my skin in check. Just when I thought that I had a good routine down, final exams, deaths in the family, and traveling threw my face a curveball. I’m talking breakouts galore, people.

While my prescription acne treatment has helped tame my skin tremendously, I knew my routine needed a shake up. I’ve heard a ton of wonderful things about Paula’s Choice skin care, so when they offered to give me a consultation and suggest the right products for my concerns, I was all in. I’ve been using these products for a full month now and can see a noticeable difference. Thank goodness!

First up, I started using their Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser, which is targeted for blemish-prone skin. Unlike other acne fighting cleansers, this one doesn’t dry out my skin or induce tightness. Instead, I’m left feeling clean, refreshed and balanced. I also noticed that after a couple of weeks, the pores around my nose (normally my most visible) looked minimized.

As usual after cleansing, I follow up with toner. Paula’s Choice Earth Sourced Purely Natural Refreshing Toner is different than others I’ve tried. It has a slight gel consistency, and it is extremely gentle while still effective at getting that last bit of dirt off and hydrating my face. It’s soothing, which is nice for my sensitive skin (yep, I’m finally admitting it… I have sensitive skin).

For my exfoliant, the Skin Perfecting 1% BHA Lotion has been helping even out my skin tone. Like their other products, this is unscented which was a little bit of a shock at first, since I’m not quite partial to the natural scent it has. Either way, it’s my favorite part of the routine. My skin feels really smooth after using this regularly and I’ve noticed that in conjunction with the toner, redness is way down.

During my consultation, two treatments were suggested for me to use along with my prescription. The Resist BHA 9 is a spot treatment I use at night that has an oily consistency, which is different than what I’m used to. I used this on the few cystic acne spots that popped up during finals, and they were almost completely flat by the following week. During the day, I use Resist Pure Radiance Skin Brightening Treatment. I develop dark spots after acne really easily, and this has helped both clear up and prevent hyperpigmentation as my skin goes crazy.

I’m loving both of the moisturizers I picked out from the brand. The Hydralight Shine-Free Daily Mineral Complex is perfect for my combo skin. It has Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for ample protection, and sinks into the skin with a demi-matte finish. This lets my skin retain its glow while keeping oil under control. For night time, I’m using the Moisture Boost Hydrating Treatment Cream which I’m applying all over the face, including my eye area. It provides rich hydration throughout the night without a heavy feeling, which is just what I need as the temperature climbs here in LA.

While my stress breakouts are still working to clear up, I am thoroughly enjoying my new Paula’s Choice skin care routine to control acne and balance my combo skin. I spent time with my mom both before I started with these products and just last weekend, and she commented on how she could see my skin improving.

Paula’s Choice products have mid-range prices, but often have insane sales so you can build your new routine affordably. They also offer most of their products in trial sizes so you can get a feel for how they work with your skin before you fully commit. Anyway, when skin care works, it’s worth it.

In the mean time, I’m happy to say that in partnership with Pretty In My Pocket, I’m able to give you all a 20% off discount! Just shop Paula’s Choice online through this link. You should also download the PRIMP app for more reviews and coupons for hot beauty products.