Though my skin isn’t exactly sensitive, it does go through sensitive periods. The winter and the summer are times when the weather makes it’s presence known on my face.
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But aside from my circumstances, did you know there are about 70% of people with sensitive skin? I didn’t!
Paula’s Choice Calm Quartet of Facial Skincare
Paula’s Choice quarter of “Calm” skincare products arrived just at the right time (about a month ago). But, this weekend the temperature is going down below zero. While it’s a good time to maybe stay inside, I’m glad that I have the Calm products to take care of my skin:
- Ultra-Gentle Cleanser
- 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant
- Repairing Serum
- Rescue & Repair Intensive Moisturizer.
The quartet of facial skincare products is:
- fragrance-free
- color-free
- and importantly, it gets to the underlying causes of sensitive skin.
Paula’s Choice Ultra-Gentle Cleanser
I have several cleansers right now that I had been using, but I swapped to Paula’s Choice Ultra-Gentle Cleanser when it arrived. Now I can’t make myself switch back!
I’m amazed at how much I love this gentle cleanser because of how soft and mild it is. It’s made with extra-mild surfactants. Though it makes soft suds, it still cleanses off dirt and makeup without hurting the skin’s barrier. Finally, it doesn’t strip skin at all, and after rinsing, it leaves skin feeling hydrated due to the soothing triglycerides and hydrating glycerin.
In fact, though my skin isn’t red, the cleanser eases redness as it cleanses. Plus overtime, prebiotic sugars support and strengthen the skin’s microbiome.
The Ultra-Gentle Cleanser bottle with a pop-up top is huge and long-lasting. It contains 16.7 fl. oz./198 ml and it’s priced at $19. It also comes in a handy travel size for $6.
Ingredients: Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Cellulose Gum, Coco Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Inulin, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Cellulose, Fructose, Glucose, Phenoxyethanol
Paula’s Choice 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant
BHA is one of Paula’s Choice’s hero products. A non-abrasive, leave-on exfoliant is known to help smooth out dull skin or unclog visible pores. Paula’s Choice traditional exfoliant is a 2% BHA product.
I have lots of skincare issues, but pores are not one of them. So, I am planning to give the 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant to a good friend of mine.
Thus, I can’t say from experience how well it works, but based on how well Paula’s Choice is known for leave-on exfoliants, I’m sure it will help refine the look of enlarged pores and wrinkles yet be a little more soothing. For instance, even rosacea-prone skin that can use some anti-aging from BHA can handle this exfoliant!
The 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant has:
- 1% salicylic acid (BHA) that unclogs pores & smooths
- calming allantoin eases redness
- light gel-cream soothes sensitive skin.
If you decide to use 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant, you don’t wash it off and you must follow it up with sunscreen with SPF 30+.
The bottle comes with a push-top cap so you can get about a dime’s worth to apply after you cleanse and rinse your face. It also 3.3 fl. oz./100 ml and is priced at $34. The travel size costs $10.
Ingredients: Water, Methylpropanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, C15-19 Alkane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Salicylic Acid, Propanediol, Inulin, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Alpha Glucan Oligosaccharide, Glycerin, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Albatrellus Confluens (Mushroom) Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Galactorarabinan , Citric Acid, Schizophyllan, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol
Paula’s Choice Repairing Serum
I think that Repairing Serum really soothes sensitive skin as the number one job. Secondly, it helps repair wrinkles and other anti-aging chores:
- immediately eases redness
- visibly smooths wrinkles
- helps to reduce future sensitivity
- nourishes all skin types, even those prone to rosacea.
Its key ingredients include:
- hyaluronic acid: to help heal wrinkles and plump dry skin
- ceramides: to fix the skin’s barrier
- plant extracts: to help visibly reduce redness, help calm and sooth skin’s sensitivity.
The Repairing Serum bottle contains 1 fl. oz./30 ml and costs $44. The travel size tube costs $12.
Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG/PPG-14/4 Dimethicone , Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Epilobium Angustifolium (Willow Herb) Extract, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Beta-Glucan, Sarcosine, Carbomer, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower Extract , Sea Whip Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract , Hyaluronic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Ceramide EOP, Magnesium Aspartate, Potassium Aspartate, Ubiquinone, Phenoxyethanol, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Calcium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Paula’s Choice Rescue & Repair Intensive Moisturizer
I love the Rescue & Repair Intensive Moisturizer the most. It’s my perfect winter moisturizer. It comes in a small, perfect tube and it squeezes out just enough thick but not too thick moisturizer. Frankly, I was surprised because Paula’s Choice calls Rescue & Repair Intensive Moisturizer “lightweight”. It confused me because it doesn’t go on lightweight, but it dries “lightweight”. In fact, it has a smooth, almost matte finish that I don’t usually like, but I just love this one!
Rescue & Repair:
- has antioxidants visibly calm redness
- restores healthy, youthful-looking skin
- soothes a compromised skin barrier.
Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Triheptanoin, C13-16 Isoalkane, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Inulin, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Squalane, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Alpha Glucan Oligosaccharide, Glycogen, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Albatrellus Confluens (Mushroom) Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Galactorarabinan , Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Schizophyllan, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
So, if you have sensitive skin, you must, must, must consider trying Paula’s Choice Calm skincare products!
Hello! I hadn’t heard about this brand. I’m getting a bundle for my mom, and I hope she likes it! Her skin is so sensitive! Thanks.
This ultra gentle range sounds perfect for this cold winter weather! Thank you for your helpful review, Allison!
I always recommend Paula’s Choice when people ask me about skincare and this new line sounds wonderful. I think I’d really like the moisturizer.