Paula's Choice reviews and discussion

4.5

91% of reviewers would recommend to a friend

Reviews mention

  • Effective exfoliant results
  • Gentle formulas for sensitive skin
  • Fragrance-free ingredient philosophy
  • Wide, targeted product range
  • Occasional irritation and peeling
  • Sticky or oily textures
  • Leaky, clunky packaging
  • Inconsistent results for some

Paula’s Choice earns largely positive reviews for delivering effective, science‑driven skincare—especially the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, which visibly clears pores, smooths texture, reduces breakouts, and suits many sensitive skins. Reviews also flag weaknesses: some formulas feel too strong or irritating, results can be inconsistent, textures can be sticky or oily, packaging is fussy or leaks, and the aesthetic reads dated—making the brand powerful but not universally effortless.

AI summary based on Thingtesting reviews

214 reviews and posts

  • One of my go to brands for skin care products. I have pretty sensitive skin and I have never had a bad reaction to any of their products. Their BHA exfoliant to a must have for me, it always leaves my skin glowing! I also started using their 10% Azelaic Acid and have been seeing good results.

  • I love Paula's Choice! Simple, straightforward formulations that don't irritate my skin, and do exactly what they claim to do. The answer to the call of a pragmatic gal. I'm a fan of just about everything they make. My pro tip would be to wait for their sales, they are generous with the discounts and also FULL-SIZE freebies. I'm definitely a customer forever.

  • Since I'm still looking for the perfect product for my skin I really appreciate the possibility to buy the Travel Kit Uniform and Purified Skin - Extra Strength. Usually you are forced to buy the big package and if you're unlike you don't know what to do with it. Beside this I will recommend this line for who doesn't like fragrance with a skin that is easily blushing. So far so good :)

    Feedback

    The travel size packaging should be refillable. So you can use it for the next travel :)

    Costumer
  • I really love the simplicity and affordability of Paula’s Choice! There is no BS, the products do just what they say they will. My all time favorite is the 2% BHA liquid exfoliant, I have repurchased it many times and will continue to do so!

  • I really love these skincare products because they work great on my skin and they are affordable. I love that they are pleasant to use and work well on my skin.

  • I’ve been using their 2% bha for over ten years. It’s been getting a little expensive, though. This is the only product that does not irritate my skin while keeping the pores clean. Just the price range is a bit high.

  • I saw someone on TikTok using this tinted SPF so I (naturally) had to try it... it's super lightweight and was exactly what I wanted for a no makeup-makeup base.

  • GET THE 2% BHA EXFOLIANT. sooo gentle on my skin. it's incorporated into my nighttime routine, i use it every other day and switch with a retinoid since i have sensitive skin but want to work on my skin texture. i'm sure if you wanted to use this everyday, it would be gentle enough to do so but i have been seeing such good results on my current routine.

  • There are way better skincare brands out there, and Paula of Paula's choice makes some misleading claims that I don't like. That said, the Vitamin C and Azelaic Acid boosters are decent products, particularly the latter as it's not a super commonly found ingredient OTC.

  • I have only tried their famous BHA exfoliator. However, it never did anything for me except slightly strip my skin. I would love to try other products in the future to see if it's effective.

  • Paula's Choice BHA is a staple for me! So good, and a little goes a long way.

  • Great mid range price point for the quality of their products. My favorite would have to be the oil free moisturizer and the salicylic toner with hyaluronic acid. Those have been the most effective for my sensitive, acne prone skin!

    Consumer
  • A little bit pricey but love their BHA exfoliant and moisturizing cream. I love how they have different product lines to target different skin concerns as well.

  • I use this product every week and my skin has been so much clearer ever since I started using it. I have rebought this product 5 times through and will continue to.

  • I fell onto the bandwagon of the AHA/BHA toner of TikTok infamy - not the best, but not the worst either

  • The best skincare products - pretty much medical grade without the hefty price! My favorite is the BHA Toner. It is like a facial in a bottle! Great routines that are super simple to follow.

  • I've tried a couple of their products so far. My favorite is the Niacinamide 20% Treatment. I refer to it as fillers in a bottle lol. There was a period where I neglected my skincare routine and I ended up with obvious smile lines from dehydrated skin. After a few weeks of using this product (3 times a week + at night) those lines are gone! It's amazing, I highly recommend it. I'm also using the C15 Super Booster right now. It's a vitamin C serum. It has been less than a month since I've started using it and I've noticed some slight improvements in my acne scarring. This product has a 3 month expiration date; it is pretty pricy for something with a short shelf-life. My least favorite product that I've tried would be the 10% Azelaic Acid Booster. I have acne-prone, oily skin and I noticed that this product did nothing for me.

  • Excellent products. My go to brand for many anti aging / facial care products. Have generally found the products to be extremely high quality and at an extremely compelling price point relative to other premium brands, especially when purchased direct from PC. I find their daily anti aging/sun screen products particularly good.

    Feedback

    The e-commerce experience, while really good in terms of delivery speed, could be made more premium in terms of the packaging. This is very much on the margins. Excellent brand!

  • Works for my dry skin, my husbands sensitive and acne prone skin. Love that everything is fragrance free! The body sunscreen works so well and is truly non greasy!

  • There are so many different skincare options that Paula's Choice has to offer. They also offer automatic subscriptions that make it easy to restock on your skincare supply. There's option for every skin type. I am personally a big fan of Paula's Choice Extra Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 5% Benzoyl Peroxide. It helps clear my skin quickly since it tends to be more acne prone.

    Feedback

    Some prices are on the higher side and you can find similar products at lower costs elsewhere, but a majority of their products are very affordable.