Paula's Choice 1% Retinol

Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment delivers potent anti-aging benefits with a carefully formulated blend for effective, smoother skin when used consistently and properly.

Sentiment62 mentions

32 positive18 neutral12 negative

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Reddit Rank

Score

0.58

Total Upvotes

5420

Editorial Summary: Paula's Choice 1% Retinol is a go-to for many with solid anti-aging effects but watch out: pricier and can be harsh at first. Start slow, moisturize, and don't skip the sunscreen. Some stability concerns but overall a favorite if you tolerate retinol well.

Pros

✓Effective anti-aging and skin smoothing results
✓Formulated with co-actives for enhanced benefits
✓Widely recommended by experienced users
✓Suitable for building retinol tolerance gradually
✓Gentle options available within the product range

Cons

✗High price compared to alternatives
✗Stability concerns and potential early degradation
✗Can cause irritation, redness, or flaking especially initially
✗Not suitable for very sensitive skin or under-eye use
✗Some users report inconsistent potency between batches

Methodology: Analyzed 62 Reddit quotes from skincare-related subreddits up to 2024, synthesizing user experiences and expert comments to provide a balanced overview of Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment.

This analysis contributed to one of our key compilations:
Reddit Backed Starter Routine (PDF)

Asked by Redditors

Is Paula's Choice 1% Retinol suitable for beginners?

It's strong, so start slowly and consider gentler formulations or lower concentrations first.

How should I use Paula's Choice Retinol to avoid irritation?

Introduce gradually, use moisturizer, avoid mixing with strong acids, and always apply sunscreen during the day.

Does Paula's Choice Retinol contain additional beneficial ingredients?

Yes, some formulations include hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and aloe for gentler effects.

How long does it take to see results?

Users typically notice improvements after consistent use over weeks to months.

Is the product stable over time?

There are reports of retinol degradation; storing properly and using product timely is recommended.

Reddit Reviews:

Calculated by the the number of posts or comments that have an opinion on this product

I started using Paula’s Choice 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment, as well as the PC Barrier Repair moisturizer w retinol (low %) at night. (currently using both every other night, and alternate with an AHA or BHA. I also recently purchased the PC 1% retinol, but have only used it once so far. (Definitely experienced some redness and flaking with that one so want to integrate the higher percentage very slowly and carefully.)

u/carolynpinkSentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 5149

Paula's Choice: Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment is identified in the article as F4. Despite being the most expensive product tested, it has the 2nd quickest retinol degradation rate of the 12 products as only 25% of the starting amount was left at 6 months after opening. Worse, the product started with only 54% of the declared retinol content suggesting that retinol started degrading even before the opening of the product.

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely negative Upvotes: 954

I have been using Paula’s Choice for over a decade now and I love their products. Unfortunately with everything happening with our southern neighbours I was hoping to spend my money at non-American skincare companies or at least skincare that isn’t made in the US. I have combo skin (oily/acne-prone t-zone and normal everywhere else). I was hoping to find substitutes for the following products: - PC skin normalizing cleanser - PC salicylic acid - PC benzoyl peroxide - PC acne body spray - PC water infusing electrolyte moisturizer - PC youth extending daily hydrating fluid (SPF 50) - PC barrier repair advanced moisturizer - PC 1% retinol treatment

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely neutral Upvotes: 128

Retinol (currently Paula’s Choice, also love SkinCeuticals)

u/OPSentiment: likely neutral Upvotes: 97

Mine is Paula’s Choice 1% retinol!

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 85

strength, formulation and even how your skin tolerates it all make a huge difference. paula’s choice 1% is strong so it’s great if you’ve already built up tolerance but for some people it can be a bit much without layering lots of moisturizer or starting slow. one tip: always pair it with SPF during the day and don’t mix it with too many other actives at once (like strong exfoliating acids) or you’ll risk irritation. a more balanced option i like is this moisturizer it blends retinol with hyaluronic acid, vitamin e and aloe so it’s way gentler while still effective

u/ContentAmbassador952Sentiment: likely neutral Upvotes: 79

this makes so much sense re: PC. i have read multiple people on here say that they are shocked by how strong it feels again when they buy a new bottle. so they're using an ineffective product part of the time

u/bbdollSentiment: likely negative Upvotes: 78

I started with retinol (Kiehl micro-dose retinol), then moved on to a retinol + bakuchiol product (paula’s choice), but continued to have irritated skin because of retinol.

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely negative Upvotes: 69

Try a Paula's choice retinol, atleast they tell you what you're buying.

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 43

If Paula's Choice is the best brand for retinols I'd be willing to buy it, but I feel like Paula's Choice is a bit pricey.

u/anvitalitySentiment: likely neutral Upvotes: 38

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