{"id":605115810098,"title":"Paula's Choice Exfoliant Review: Best Natural Exfoliator?","created_at":"2023-03-22T22:14:44-04:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Paula's Choice Exfoliant Review: Best Natural Exfoliator?\",\n \"keywords\": \"paula's choice exfoliant, paula's choice exfoliant review, paula's choice exfoliant reviews, paula's choice exfoliate, paula's choice bha exfoliant, exfoliate paula's choice, how to use paula's choice exfoliant, paula's choice exfoliant how to use, paula's choice exfoliant before and after\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team reviews the ingredients in Paula's Choice Exfoliant based on medical studies to give our take on whether the product is likely to improve skin quality and reduce acne. We feature real customer reviews including before-and-after images.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/paulas-choice-exfoliant-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Brian Moore\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": [\n \"M.D.\",\n \"F.A.A.D\"\n ],\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/brian-moore\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/brian-moore-md-faad-2b1b77a2\/\",\n \"https:\/\/www.apexskin.com\/our-team\/dr-brian-moore-md\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Dermatology Advisor\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"dermatology, skincare, pigmented lesions, anti-aging, medical research, clinical trials, sunscreen, moisturizer, wrinkles, makeup, shampoo, soap\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"Columbia University\",\n \"University of Toledo\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Paula_s_Choice_Exfoliant_Thumbnail.png?v=1679537932\",\n\"width\": \"3642\",\n\"height\": \"3642\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4554394\/\", \n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/amarose-review\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3875240\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24472429\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/us\/wa\/seattle\/profile\/cosmetics-sales\/paulas-choice-llc-1296-22002811\/customer-reviews\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30287361\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/11896774\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24471735\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30681787\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"salicylic acid\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"BHA\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"tea tree oil\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Lavinia Rusanda\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Dermstore\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Sephora\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Amazon\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Dr. Jenny Liu\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Dr. Shereene Idriss\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"BBB\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-03-22\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ],\n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Paula_s_Choice_Exfoliant_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1679537341\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eP\u003c\/span\u003eaula’s Choice Exfoliant is one of the most popular facial exfoliators on the market. The brand describes it as their “most popular product worldwide” and claims that it “sheds built-up layers of skin.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut does Paula’s Choice Exfoliant contain research-backed ingredients for exfoliating skin and improving skin quality, or are these just marketing claims? Does the product contain any questionable additive ingredients? What retailer sells it for the best price? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Paula’s Choice Exfoliant?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in Paula’s Choice Exfoliant based on medical studies to give our take on whether the product is likely to be effective or if it’s a waste of money.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll also feature a video demonstrating how it’s meant to be used, document which retailer sells it for the best price and share real, unsponsored user reviews of Paula’s Choice Exfoliant.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIngredient Analysis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"Paula's Choice Exfoliant ingredients\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Paula_s_Choice_Exfoliant_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1679537359\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe ingredients in Paula’s Choice Exfoliant are shown above.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSalicylic acid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, also known as BHA, is the most important ingredient for its exfoliating properties. A \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4554394\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e on salicylic acid published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eClinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal explains that this ingredient has been used to treat skin disorders for over 2,000 years, and that it’s an effective exfoliator.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCamellia oleifera\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, also known as tea tree oil, can be effective in the treatment of acne as we documented in our \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/amarose-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmarose reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e article.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSodium hydroxide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is another effective exfoliator according to a 2013 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3875240\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe remaining ingredients in this formulation are fillers, emulsifiers and other inactive ingredients which should all be non-toxic in our opinion, based on a review of clinical studies.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe consider Paula’s Choice Exfoliant to be likely effective based on its active ingredients, and we would recommend this product due to the lack of questionable additive ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut how do real users review the product? We’ll review in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal, Unsponsored User Reviews of Paula’s Choice Exfoliant\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube creator named Lavinia Rusanda used Paula’s Choice Exfoliant for two weeks in an attempt to treat her acne and scarring, and shares before-and-after images:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FMUy80kHLKs\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAnother YouTube creator named Oluchi Onuigbo has a video demonstrating how to use this exfoliator with over 200,000 views:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wSn0oqIRW_s\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhere to Buy Paula’s Choice Exfoliant for the Best Price\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ePaula’s Choice Exfoliant is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s a pricing breakdown accurate at the time of publishing this article:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand website: $34 (plus $5.50 shipping, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.paulaschoice.com\/skin-perfecting-2pct-bha-liquid-exfoliant\/201-2010.html\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDermstore: $34 (plus $7 shipping, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.dermstore.com\/paula-s-choice-skin-perfecting-2-bha-liquid-exfoliant-118ml\/11174178.html\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSephora: \u003cstrong\u003e$34 (free shipping\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.sephora.com\/product\/paula-s-choice-skin-perfecting-2-bha-liquid-exfoliant-P469502\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e$34 (free shipping\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e depending on plan – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Zc0Awd\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis product is currently 14% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s website depending on Amazon plan.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDermatologist Reviews Paula’s Choice Exfoliant\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA dermatologist named Dr. Jenny Liu has a video reviewing Paula’s Choice Exfoliant:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aQGXl8nQQug\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWill This Product Cause Side Effects?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ePaula’s Choice Exfoliant doesn’t appear to have been studied in any clinical trials published in peer-reviewed journals, so we can’t say for certain whether or not it’s likely to cause side effects. However, we can make an educated guess based on its ingredients and category of product.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAccording to a 2014 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24472429\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, one rare side effect of salicylic acid use on skin is systemic toxicity. This is highly unlikely in healthy adults, but it may be worth speaking to a dermatologist about for immune-compromised individuals.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe medical review cited in the ingredient analysis section documented more common side effects of salicylic acid use. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eDryness was reported 32.3% of the time and “intense exfoliation and crusting” was reported around 15% of the time.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e However, this cleared in 7-10 days.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe do not believe that Paula’s Choice Exfoliant is likely to cause side effects in the majority of users; it’s a safe and non-toxic formulation. But individuals with very sensitive skin or immune system issues may benefit from speaking with a dermatologist before use.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat is Exfoliation?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube video from a dermatologist named Dr. Shereene Idriss explains what exfoliation is and why she considers chemical exfoliation to be a better option than physical exfoliation:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Fp6HR_K2BGs\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal Customers Review Paula’s Choice Exfoliant\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion. Paula’s Choice Exfoliant has been reviewed over 81,000 times on Amazon with an average review rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Sarah H.” who claims that it cured their hormonal acne:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“I cannot believe how quickly this exfoliator cleared up and soothed my angry, persistent hormonal chin acne, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eI am absolutely floored!...My skin hated everything…I wish so badly I would have found it sooner! The horrific breakout on my chin that I had been battling for 5 months, is now COMPLETELY cleared in just 6 DAYS of using it morning and night!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e I just look in the mirror every morning seeing more improvement, and I’m floored….If you’re suffering from hormonal acne, regular acne, tough stubborn acne, I would absolutely 1 million percent recommend trying this product.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “G.K” who claims it caused minor side effects:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Also, I know this part is probably just a me-thing but holy jeesh this stuff made my skin burn and itch.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e I tried using it once a week, three times a week, once a day, it didn't matter - my skin despises Paula's Choice. Honestly, don't waste the time and money.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ePaula’s Choice has a rating of 2.11 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/us\/wa\/seattle\/profile\/cosmetics-sales\/paulas-choice-llc-1296-22002811\/customer-reviews\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ewebsite\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, and the brand does not currently respond to customer complaints. This suggests that consumers may benefit from purchasing the product on Amazon which handles customer complaints itself.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePros and Cons of Paula’s Choice Exfoliant\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHere are the pros and cons of Paula’s Choice Exfoliant in our opinion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003ePros:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eEffective formulation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eNo harmful ingredients\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFavorable customer reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand doesn’t try to resolve customer complaints on BBB\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eExfoliating ingredient may be harsh on sensitive skin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur Clean Skincare Picks\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Skincare_Products_Image_Optimized.png?v=1664754145\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are skincare products that contain ingredients shown in clinical trials to be effective for reducing wrinkles and improving skin quality generally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/track.revoffers.com\/aff_c?offer_id=155\u0026amp;aff_id=7240\u0026amp;url_id=2077\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAnnie Mak Vitamin C Serum\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is our top skin cream pick because of its effective and clean formulation. It contains \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ehyaluronic acid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e which was described as a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"skin-rejuvenating biomedicine\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30287361\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e due to its ability to reduce wrinkles and signs of facial aging.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can check out Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/track.revoffers.com\/aff_c?offer_id=155\u0026amp;aff_id=7240\u0026amp;url_id=2077\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e to the product page on the official brand's website.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/track.revoffers.com\/aff_c?offer_id=159\u0026amp;aff_id=7240\u0026amp;url_id=2174\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eHydraglow\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is our top moisturizer pick.\u003c\/span\u003e It features \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ebakuchiol\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e as an active ingredient which was described in a 2014 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24471735\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"clinically proven to have anti-aging effects.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can purchase Hydraglow at the secure checkout below:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstyle\u003e\u003c!--\n.katalys-iframe-container {\n position: relative;\n width: auto;\n height: 100%;\n max-height: 420px;\n overflow: hidden;\n }\n .katalys-iframe-container::after {\n display: inline-block;\n content: \"\";\n padding-bottom: 58.82%;\n }\n .katalys-iframe-container iframe {\n position: absolute;\n width: 100%;\n height: 100%;\n }\n @media (max-width: 660px) {\n .katalys-iframe-container {\n width: 300px;\n height: 600px;\n max-height: 600px;\n margin: 0 auto;\n }\n .katalys-iframe-container::after {\n padding-bottom: 0%;\n overflow: hidden;\n }\n }\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\" class=\"katalys-iframe-container\"\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"margin: auto; border: none; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/1o.io\/checkouts\/ffccd0c3-b4bc-4d88-aea3-38e8de7f1296\/#placementId=paulas-choice-exfoliant-review\/placementId2=HydraGlow\/placementId3=inline\" allow=\"payment\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe only oral supplement we recommend for skin quality improvement is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/c\/3271428\/1278011\/9221\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBulletproof Collagen Powder\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOral \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ecollagen\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e supplementation was shown in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30681787\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJournal of Drugs in Dermatology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eto improve visible signs of skin aging as well as improve skin elasticity and skin hydration\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen Powder \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/c\/3271428\/1278011\/9221\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e to the product page on the brand's official website.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNone of the products recommended in this section contain additive ingredients that we consider questionable from a health perspective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe consider Paula’s Choice Exfoliant to be a high-quality product and recommend it. It’s one of the few skincare products we’ve reviewed on Illuminate Health that has no questionable or unhealthy additive ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis product contains salicylic acid which is an exfoliating ingredient with some of the strongest research backing, and tea tree oil which can help reduce acne.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMost customer and expert reviews of this product are favorable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFor consumers interested in purchasing this product, it may be beneficial to do so on Amazon for two reasons. First, it can be cheaper when considering shipping charges. Second, it may make any customer complaints or order-related issues easier to resolve, because Paula’s Choice does not appear to respond to public customer complaints on the BBB website.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-03-22T22:24:03-04:00","updated_at":"2023-09-22T13:19:34-04:00","summary_html":"We review the ingredients in Paula's Choice Exfoliant based on medical studies to give our take on whether the product is likely to improve skin quality and reduce acne. We feature real customer reviews including before-and-after images.","template_suffix":"","handle":"paulas-choice-exfoliant-review","tags":"_related:skincare"}

Paula's Choice Exfoliant Review: Best Natural Exfoliator?

Paula's Choice Exfoliant Review: Best Natural Exfoliator?


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Paula’s Choice Exfoliant is one of the most popular facial exfoliators on the market. The brand describes it as their “most popular product worldwide” and claims that it “sheds built-up layers of skin.”

But does Paula’s Choice Exfoliant contain research-backed ingredients for exfoliating skin and improving skin quality, or are these just marketing claims? Does the product contain any questionable additive ingredients? What retailer sells it for the best price? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Paula’s Choice Exfoliant?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in Paula’s Choice Exfoliant based on medical studies to give our take on whether the product is likely to be effective or if it’s a waste of money.

We’ll also feature a video demonstrating how it’s meant to be used, document which retailer sells it for the best price and share real, unsponsored user reviews of Paula’s Choice Exfoliant.

Ingredient Analysis

Paula's Choice Exfoliant ingredients

The ingredients in Paula’s Choice Exfoliant are shown above.

Salicylic acid, also known as BHA, is the most important ingredient for its exfoliating properties. A medical review on salicylic acid published in the Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology journal explains that this ingredient has been used to treat skin disorders for over 2,000 years, and that it’s an effective exfoliator.

Camellia oleifera, also known as tea tree oil, can be effective in the treatment of acne as we documented in our Amarose reviews article.

Sodium hydroxide is another effective exfoliator according to a 2013 medical review.

The remaining ingredients in this formulation are fillers, emulsifiers and other inactive ingredients which should all be non-toxic in our opinion, based on a review of clinical studies.

We consider Paula’s Choice Exfoliant to be likely effective based on its active ingredients, and we would recommend this product due to the lack of questionable additive ingredients.

But how do real users review the product? We’ll review in the next section.

Real, Unsponsored User Reviews of Paula’s Choice Exfoliant

A YouTube creator named Lavinia Rusanda used Paula’s Choice Exfoliant for two weeks in an attempt to treat her acne and scarring, and shares before-and-after images:

Another YouTube creator named Oluchi Onuigbo has a video demonstrating how to use this exfoliator with over 200,000 views:

Where to Buy Paula’s Choice Exfoliant for the Best Price

Paula’s Choice Exfoliant is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s a pricing breakdown accurate at the time of publishing this article:

Brand website: $34 (plus $5.50 shipping, link)

Dermstore: $34 (plus $7 shipping, link)

Sephora: $34 (free shipping, link)

Amazon: $34 (free shipping depending on plan – link to official Amazon listing)

This product is currently 14% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s website depending on Amazon plan.

Dermatologist Reviews Paula’s Choice Exfoliant

A dermatologist named Dr. Jenny Liu has a video reviewing Paula’s Choice Exfoliant:

Will This Product Cause Side Effects?

Paula’s Choice Exfoliant doesn’t appear to have been studied in any clinical trials published in peer-reviewed journals, so we can’t say for certain whether or not it’s likely to cause side effects. However, we can make an educated guess based on its ingredients and category of product.

According to a 2014 medical review, one rare side effect of salicylic acid use on skin is systemic toxicity. This is highly unlikely in healthy adults, but it may be worth speaking to a dermatologist about for immune-compromised individuals.

The medical review cited in the ingredient analysis section documented more common side effects of salicylic acid use. Dryness was reported 32.3% of the time and “intense exfoliation and crusting” was reported around 15% of the time. However, this cleared in 7-10 days.

We do not believe that Paula’s Choice Exfoliant is likely to cause side effects in the majority of users; it’s a safe and non-toxic formulation. But individuals with very sensitive skin or immune system issues may benefit from speaking with a dermatologist before use.

What is Exfoliation?

A YouTube video from a dermatologist named Dr. Shereene Idriss explains what exfoliation is and why she considers chemical exfoliation to be a better option than physical exfoliation:

Real Customers Review Paula’s Choice Exfoliant

Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion. Paula’s Choice Exfoliant has been reviewed over 81,000 times on Amazon with an average review rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Sarah H.” who claims that it cured their hormonal acne:

“I cannot believe how quickly this exfoliator cleared up and soothed my angry, persistent hormonal chin acne, I am absolutely floored!...My skin hated everything…I wish so badly I would have found it sooner! The horrific breakout on my chin that I had been battling for 5 months, is now COMPLETELY cleared in just 6 DAYS of using it morning and night! I just look in the mirror every morning seeing more improvement, and I’m floored….If you’re suffering from hormonal acne, regular acne, tough stubborn acne, I would absolutely 1 million percent recommend trying this product.”

The top negative review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “G.K” who claims it caused minor side effects:

“Also, I know this part is probably just a me-thing but holy jeesh this stuff made my skin burn and itch. I tried using it once a week, three times a week, once a day, it didn't matter - my skin despises Paula's Choice. Honestly, don't waste the time and money.”

Paula’s Choice has a rating of 2.11 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, and the brand does not currently respond to customer complaints. This suggests that consumers may benefit from purchasing the product on Amazon which handles customer complaints itself.

Pros and Cons of Paula’s Choice Exfoliant

Here are the pros and cons of Paula’s Choice Exfoliant in our opinion:

Pros:

  • Effective formulation
  • No harmful ingredients
  • Favorable customer reviews

Cons:

  • Brand doesn’t try to resolve customer complaints on BBB
  • Exfoliating ingredient may be harsh on sensitive skin

Our Clean Skincare Picks

There are skincare products that contain ingredients shown in clinical trials to be effective for reducing wrinkles and improving skin quality generally.

Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum is our top skin cream pick because of its effective and clean formulation. It contains hyaluronic acid which was described as a "skin-rejuvenating biomedicine" in a medical review due to its ability to reduce wrinkles and signs of facial aging.

Interested consumers can check out Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum at this link to the product page on the official brand's website.

Hydraglow is our top moisturizer pick. It features bakuchiol as an active ingredient which was described in a 2014 clinical trial as "clinically proven to have anti-aging effects."

Interested consumers can purchase Hydraglow at the secure checkout below:

The only oral supplement we recommend for skin quality improvement is Bulletproof Collagen Powder.

Oral collagen supplementation was shown in a medical review published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology to improve visible signs of skin aging as well as improve skin elasticity and skin hydration.

Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen Powder at this link to the product page on the brand's official website.

None of the products recommended in this section contain additive ingredients that we consider questionable from a health perspective.

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Conclusion

We consider Paula’s Choice Exfoliant to be a high-quality product and recommend it. It’s one of the few skincare products we’ve reviewed on Illuminate Health that has no questionable or unhealthy additive ingredients.

This product contains salicylic acid which is an exfoliating ingredient with some of the strongest research backing, and tea tree oil which can help reduce acne.

Most customer and expert reviews of this product are favorable.

For consumers interested in purchasing this product, it may be beneficial to do so on Amazon for two reasons. First, it can be cheaper when considering shipping charges. Second, it may make any customer complaints or order-related issues easier to resolve, because Paula’s Choice does not appear to respond to public customer complaints on the BBB website.