I love starting a new month. I love setting up my calendar layout for my bullet journal and filling in appointments and events that are coming up. It's like getting the opportunity to see into the future! I know it is April 1st, but I have never been one for April Fools Day or posting joke cosmetics on the blog so we are just going to talk about exfoliation instead!
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When it comes to Paula's Choice products, I never really worry about efficacy or claims made because Paula Begoun is known as the "Cosmetics Cop". Though she can be a bit harsh sometimes, I like that she lists journals when to back up her statements and is a bit of a champion for products with effective ingredients. The pricing of Paula's Choice products is VERY reasonable even in US dollars and there are often free shipping and promo codes for both the US and Canada. After reviewing the Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel three years ago and falling completely head over heels, I knew that the chemical exfoliants were SOLID. I still use the gel once a season anywhere from 2-4 weeks if I need an "epithelial reboot".
I love chemical exfoliation on my face and now that I am getting older, I use physical exfoliants on my face less often. When it came to the rest of my body, I have always used a physical exfoliant and never thought too much about chemical exfoliators until I saw that there was an exfoliating MOISTURIZER in the Paula's Choice RESIST series! I mean, how awesome?!
The RESIST Skin Revealing Body Lotion with 10% AHA* (210mL/$28.00 CDN) is my godsend when it comes to having forgotten to exfoliate in the shower. My skin does well with high percentage AHAs so seeing this be 10% glycolic acid had me so excited! Not only does this body lotion exfoliate and keep areas like the backs of my arms and legs smooth, it is also fairly hydrating and non-greasy so applying this in the morning doesn't leave me waiting around to put my clothes on. There were a couple of occasions over the winter when this body lotion was not enough so just like for my face, I would use this as a serum/treatment followed by a thicker body lotion on top. Oh, and as this contains such a high amount of glycolic acid (ingredient #2!), expect a bit of tingling! Just don't use this on freshly shaven legs because while the sensation is tolerable, it's not pleasant.
Ingredients: Water, Glycolic Acid (alpha hydroxy acid/exfoliant), Cyclopentasiloxane (hydration), Dimethicone (hydration), Glycerin (hydration/skin replenishing), Glyceryl Stearate (texture-enhancing), Stearic Acid (texture-enhancing), Cetyl Alcohol (texture-enhancing), Butyrospermum Parkii (shea butter/emollient/antioxidant), Sodium Hydroxide (pH adjuster), PEG-100 Stearate (texture-enhancing), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (stabilized vitamin C/antioxidant), Tocopheryl Acetate (vitamin E/antioxidant), Chamomilla Recutita Matricaria Flower Extract (chamomile extract/skin-soothing), Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil (grape extract/non-fragrant oil/emollient/antioxidant), Camellia Oleifera Extract (green tea extract/antioxidant), Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract (willow herb extract (skin-soothing), Allantoin (skin-soothing), Butylene Glycol (hydration), Xanthan Gum (texture-enhancing), Disodium EDTA (stabilizer), sodium benzoate (preservative), phenoxyethanol (preservative)
Right after glycolic acid is cyclopentasiloxane and dimethicone which I made allowances for as I have a feeling they help with texture and efficacy in a body lotion with such a high concentration of AHA, but only a cosmetic chemist would know. The finish of this body lotion is smooth and highly absorbent and I did not suffer any breakouts on my body from the silicone content, just smooth skin!
Final verdict: If body exfoliation is something you tend to forget in the shower, this body lotion might be your answer because most of us at least remember to moisturize more or less out of discomfort! I also LOVE that the glycolic acid percentage is higher than what you would see available to consumers. If you aren't a regular exfoliator, the difference after using this body lotion will probably be more drastic than my experience as I exfoliate almost every day. This kept my skin in check without having to resort to a physical exfoliator which SHOULD be the case so I think you exfoliant-freaks will love it!
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