Category Archives: A little bit of this, a little bit of that

Warm Red and Orange Smoky Eyes PLUS MPZ Meal of Me giveaway

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Hi lovely people!

I hope you had a warm and cosy Christmas, I sure did! It’s getting harder and harder to keep up with the blog these days. While I feel sad that I am not around much, because this is where my makeup adventure started and I don’t want to call it off just yet, it seems like things are heading that way.

However, for now, they are heading towards a makeup tutorial and a small giveaway!!! Watch the video for details:

 

Review: Paula’s Choice Clear Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution with 2% Salicylic Acid

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Hey guys!

So, originally this product was supposed to be a part of my Empties volume 2 post, but I decided otherwise. And not because I was that impressed with the product itself (I did like it, don’t get me wrong!), but mostly to introduce you to this brand (if you don’t already know about it).

Paula Begoun, The Cosmetics Cop, is some sort of guru in the area of cosmetics and skin care. She wrote a bunch of books, and eventually started her own company: Paula’s Choice.

When I first started getting into skin care, I was confronted with a load of, what seemed to me, crap online. That’s the word, really. I read “expert” opinions on blogs and websites from people who have no idea what they are talking about, and use scientific terms without the slightest clue what those mean. Luckily, it didn’t take me long to find the website of Paula’s Choice and it appealed to me. The reason is very simple. The website has an extensive encyclopedia about cosmetic ingredients and brands….with references to actual scientific journals, meaning you can look up the original research. Given my scientific background, this way of presenting information, appeals to me a lot more than the jibber-jabber of pseudo experts.

You can check out the website here, if you are interested. You can look up pretty much any ingredient in your cream/lotion/serum/whatever, and they provide extensive information about it. It’s fun! 🙂

Anyway, I wanted to try some of their products, and I discovered that they have an online store in the Netherlands (and other countries too, btw). I got a small sample bottle of the Clear Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution with 2% Salicylic Acid:

Paula's Choice exfoliant

It costs around €7 for 30ml.

This is how Paula’s Choice describe the exfoliant:

“What makes this product unique?

Clear Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution provides an almost immediate reduction in blackheads, white bumps, and acne by unclogging pores and reducing inflammation with 2% salicylic acid.

Unlike most products designed for acne-prone skin, Clear Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution doesn’t use harsh, irritating ingredients such as alcohol, menthol, peppermint, or camphor that can make acne worse.

Clear Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution is designed to penetrate deeper into the pore lining than our Regular Strength Clear exfoliant for fast, concentrated results on stubborn, more serious breakouts.

Ongoing use can guarantee significantly Clearer, smoother, even-toned skin and can significantly reduce redness from acne lesions.

This product is 100% fragrance- and colorant-free with a pH range of 3.2-3.8.

Who is this product for?
This product is recommended for all skin types experiencing mild to moderate acne, stubborn blackheads, or white bumps. It is suitable for men or women, teens and adults alike.

NOTE: Those allergic to aspirin (acetylsalicylate) should not use products containing salicylic acid (beta hydroxy acid).”

My thoughts:

I used this little bottle for about 2-3 months (once a day, even though they recommend twice), and admittedly I lost some of it during travelling. The bottle definitely isn’t travel-friendly and leaks…perhaps the full-size is better. The exfoliant has no smell and does not irritate or dry out the skin. It feels pleasant and refreshing.

For the rest, I cannot be sure how helpful it has been. The thing is that with my current skin care routine, my face already didn’t look all that bad. In fact, I think it looks better than ever. I hardly ever have pimples…maybe one a few days before my period. And as far as blackheads goes, I think there is only one real solution: the beauty salon. For me anyway..maybe my blackheads have decreased, but they are so many in total, that I could never see the difference.

Perhaps this exfoliant would have seemed more impressive, if my skin was actually more blemished. Or maybe the exfoliant really did its job in improving the condition of my skin, but I am not giving it enough credit. I will found out soon enough ..

….since for now I won’t re-purchse it. I am still planning try some more of Paula’s Choice products in the future, because I do find this company very compelling.

I hope this post was interesting 🙂

Have you ever tried a product from Paula’s Choice? What was it, and what did you think about it? I’d love to gather some more info!!!

See you soon!!!