SPF MOISTURIZER | Paula's Choice Resist SPF 50

Paula's Choice description:

An innovative water-light formula that contains a vital selection of antioxidants and broad-spectrum sun protection to fight visible signs of aging and prevent premature aging of skin.

• Promotes a healthier, younger-looking appearance 
• Fights against environmental stressors
• Fluid formula leaves a matte finish
• Use as the last step in your AM skincare routine

Ingredients:

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2.0%, Octinoxate 7.50%, Octisalate 5.0%, Octocrylene 2.0%
Other Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerin (hydration/skin replenishing), Silica (absorbent agent), Dimethicone (hydration), Tocopherol (vitamin E/antioxidant), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (Matricaria), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract (antioxidants), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract (antioxidants), Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract(antioxidants), Peucedanum Graveolens (Dill) Extract (antioxidants), Sambucus Nigra (Black Elderberry) Fruit Extract (antioxidants), Avena Sativa (Oat) Bran Extract (skin-soothing), Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract(antioxidants), Lycium Barbarum (Goji) Fruit Extract(antioxidants), Hydrogenated Lecithin (skin-restoring), Titanium Dioxide (texture-enhancing/texture-enhancing), Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer (hydration), Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate (hydration), Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer (film-forming/suspending agent), Xanthan Gum (texture-enhancings), Sodium Carbomer (texture-enhancings), Benzyl Alcohol (preservative), Sodium Benzoate (stabilizer), Potassium Sorbate (stabilizer), Phenoxyethanol (preservative).

Another product I use literally every day

One of my favorite skin care products to try is sunscreen. This one is lightweight and slightly moisturizing. In the winter it's not moisturizing enough to use by itself, but in the summer it's perfect, esp if I use a moisturizing serum beforehand.

When I first started using it I thought it helped my skin produce less oil, but after using it for a while I don't notice that effect anymore. I do think this is a good base for makeup, it has no white cast but it doesn't help with my huge pores, so a primer helps a lot.

I love this SPF the most because I can just put it on in one step, instead of a moisturizer then SPF.

The only thing I'm iffy about is I can't tell if the sun protection is really effective. My face rarely gets sunburnt, but over the last year I noticed I've gotten a lot of freckles on the tops of my cheeks. Maybe it's genetics or it comes with aging, maybe I don't reapply enough throughout the day. 

I have other sunscreens to try out after I finish this one, but if I don't find anything better, I can see this being a staple in my skincare 

Price

$33 for 2 oz

EMPTIES | Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Toner

Website description:

A hydrating milky fluid rich in plant oils that comforts dry to very dry skin. This silky toner soothes dry, flaky skin to help revitalize and recover moisture loss while infusing skin’s surface with plant- and vitamin-derived anti-aging and calming antioxidants.

• Extra Sensitive Skin, Redness
• Normal to Dry Skin; Dry/Very Dry Skin
• Replenishes a dull, dry complexion
• Antioxidant-rich plant oils soothe and protect skin
• Milky, hydrating formula
• Use twice daily after cleansing skin

Why is it different?

SKIN RECOVERY Enriched Calming Toner offers an oasis of relief to dry, thirsty skin. This carefully blended formula contains essential ingredients dry skin needs to improve and help defend against dehydration, environmental stress, and aging.

All Paula’s Choice products are 100% fragrance free, clinically proven to be non-irritating, and never tested on animals.

What does it do?

SKIN RECOVERY Enriched Calming Toner is loaded with skin-defending antioxidants, essential lipids, and skin-restoring ingredients that leave your skin feeling silky-smooth and better able to renew the appearance of environmental attack. It delivers key ingredients to help eliminate dry, flaky skin as it hydrates and leaves skin feeling smooth.

Who is it for?

SKIN RECOVERY Enriched Calming Toner is for those with dry to very dry skin who want to increase their skin’s hydration and smoothness while minimizing the appearance of environmental attack.

Product Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Cyclopentasiloxane (hydration), Butylene Glycol (hydration), Glycereth-26 (hydration/texture-enhancing), Dimethiconol (hydration), Oenothera Biennis Oil (evening primrose oil/non-fragrant oil/antioxidant), Borago Officinalis Seed Oil (borage oil/non-fragrant oil/antioxidant), Sodium Hyaluronate (hydration/skin replenishing), Tocopheryl Acetate (vitamin E/antioxidants), Tocopherol (vitamin E/antioxidants), Ascorbyl Palmitate (vitamin C/antioxidant), Panthenol (skin replenishing), Allantoin (skin-soothing), Glycerin (hydration/skin replenishing), Hydrogenated Lecithin (skin-restoring), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (emollient), Niacinamide (vitamin B3/skin-restoring), Superoxide Dismutase (antioxidant), PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil (emollient), Linoleamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate (stabilizer), Laureth-4 (texture-enhancing), Laureth-23 (texture-enhancing), Disodium EDTA (stabilizer), Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Chlorphenesin (preservative), Phenoxyethanol (preservative), Benzoic Acid (preservative), Sorbic Acid (preservative).

I've used up two Paula's Choice products so far, so it's safe to say I definitely like this brand. PC is mostly known for the Skin Perfecting Fluid (which I will review soon, although I'm not particularly taken with that product).

I liked this toner for the winter when my skin is drier. It has a thicker consistency as described compared to typical toners, and you're supposed to shake it before use. It was not a miracle product but it's definitely one of the better toners I've used. It's great if you have sensitive skin or if your skin's reacting to something.

I think PC products really do work, and they're pretty reasonably priced if you compare them to high end skin care products. I've been trying our her anti-aging moisturizers after using up the Skin Recovery moisturizer (review soon). The most I've taken away from Paula's reviews is that jar moisturizers are not ideal, for sanitary reasons but also because the antioxidants become less effective with exposure to air.

Price

$21 for 6.4 oz (190ml)

This is quite a big bottle, but I guess some drugstore toners are 8 oz

Would I recommend it?

Yes

Would I repurchase?

Maybe! I'm trying out their anti-aging toner right now and the Peter Thomas Roth Hello Kitty balancing toner from Asia.