Paula's Choice Just Dropped a New Exfoliator, and My Sensitive Skin Loves It

I moved to Los Angeles last year, and in the summer that followed, I spent a lot of time in the sun. Although all the vitamin D was great for my mental health (and my tan), it left me with quite a lot of hyperpigmentation on my face. I wear a hat whenever I'm in the sun and I make sure to layer on sunscreen, but by the end of September, I still wound up with a face full of freckles.

I have sensitive, acne-prone skin, so when looking for ways to rid myself of the discoloration, I needed to search for something gentle. When I heard Paula's Choice was launching a new exfoliating product, I needed to test it out. The salicylic acid formula went viral on TikTok, but for some reason, my skin never took to it. I had high hopes that its latest launch, the Skin Perfecting 6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant ($37), would be a winner for my skin.

Skin Perfecting 6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant

From

$37

$37 at Sephora

Keep reading for my full review of the new liquid exfoliant.

My skin can be very reactive, but I haven't had any issues since introducing this product into my routine. It's gentle enough that it doesn't irritate my dry skin, but powerful enough to help address my uneven texture from breakouts.

Although acne wasn't my initial reason for testing this product, I've noticed that swiping it over any new zits around my jawline makes them disappear fairly quickly.

Although I typically only use exfoliating products once or twice a week, I've been able to use this every other day without experiencing any adverse effects. My skin looks brighter, feels softer, and I've noticed fewer breakouts.

The brand recommends applying this product up to two times a day after cleansing and toning. They suggest either using clean hands or a cotton pad to apply an even layer over the entire face, sans the eyes and lips. Once finished, you can follow with your regular skin-care routine.

To make sure my skin could handle this product, I started using it every three days and gradually worked my way up to every other day over several weeks. I typically put a quarter-size amount on a cotton round and wipe it over my face and neck, but if I'm in a pinch, I'm fine dispersing the product directly onto my fingers and patting it in.

As with any exfoliating product, I'd recommend doing a patch test on a small area of skin to see how your body reacts before committing to using it on your entire face. Although it contains less than one percent synthetic fragrance, the blend of acids does have a faint, unpleasant smell — it doesn't deter me from enjoying the product, but it's worth noting.

Additionally, the bottle warns that this product can make your skin more sensitive to the sun since it contains AHAs, which is something to consider if you are frequently outdoors. Either way, make sure to use an SPF.

Rating:

★★★★☆