Hi, girls!
As I was telling you last Friday, my skincare routine has changed drastically and for the better, for the last months and one of the items I've included was Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant. Basically, a chemical exfoliant is very useful in our skincare routine as it deeply penetrates all the skin layers and cleans up the pores from within, preventing the "deposits" of sebum and dirt, thus the appearance of blackheads, acne and extreme sebum secretion, all the while revealing a radiant, healthy skin.
Now these exfoliants are mainly 2 types: AHA and BHA. AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) helps more with exfolianting at the surface all dead cells and dark spots, which makes it great for dry skin. BHA, the one I'm currently using is destined for combo and oily skin as it regulates the sebum secretion and it unclogs the pores from within. There are many articles written on these, so if you want to know more details, check Paula's Choice website.
Now onto the packaging, I have to say that I'm liking it a lot. It's very sturdy and great for travelling with and it has a small pump which gives just the right amount of product you need for one application.I only need a small amount for my whole face (exclueding eye and lips areas of course). The recipient contains 100 ml which should last me for about an year, is that long lasting.
As the title implies, the formula is that of a clear gel. There are differentes version of the 2% BHA in the form of liquid and lotion, but from what I've read, the gel one is the best for combination skin such as mine. As I've stated before, only a small quantity is needed for the whole face and it absorbs really quickly. The trick is to massage it very well into the skin, especially in the problem areas (for me those are my nose, my chin and left cheek). The smell is neutral and very faint, so no frangraces involved. It does get a little tacky and sticky imediatelly after the application but the feeling dissapears in about 5-10 minutes and the skin remains smooth and radiant.
For me, this product was a true revelation that I can really clear my skin and make it look... different. I didn't have many problems with my skin by no means, just some annoying blackheads on my nose and chin, some scarce pimples around my forehead, left cheek and jaw and of course your regular combo skin : oily in the T zone and chin and dry on the cheeks and around my mouth.
Now, after more than 5 months since using it almost daily I can totally see the effects:
- It regulated the sebum secretion, I don't get as oily as before. BUT the true test will be during summer when I tend to get really oily.
- It didn't completely eliminate my blackheads, but it made them look smaller and there are a lot fewer. Anyway, the results will be seen in time as sadly blackheads don't dissapear as quickly as we wish it.
- It made my large pores look smaller and more blurry, just like a primer would do.
- It eliminated about 80-90% of my acne scars and pimples. Yes, I do get 2-3 pimples during those hormonal days of the month, but they heal so quicky and go away with little effort from my part.
- My skin looks a lot more glowy and radiant and even-toned. It reduced drastically the redness I had around my nose and mouth.
- It leaves behind a trully moisturised skin, very smooth and silky. Even on my dry skin areas. The trick is to use a moisturizer afterwards in those areas.
I've been using it only at night, before going to bed in between my cleanser and my moisturizer. And in the morning, I always use a SPF moisturizer which is must when working with chemical exfoliants. I mainly use it once a day, but sometimes I take a brake for 1-2 days when I feel it accentuates my dry skin patches.
I must say it that it didn't replace my face scrub, which I still use once a week for sheading all dead cells and dirt at the surface that my cleanser don't clean away.
Just like the moisturizer I have from Paula's Choice, this guy is not cheap, but considering that it should last for a whole year (before it expires), the investment is more than fair. You can find it here at the price of 24.9 Euro.
Love at first brush