Paula's Choice - Heather's Notes

Paulas Choice “Beauty Begins With Truth”

A video here to introduce you to Paula Begoun, who she is and what she believes in when it comes to skincare (she is obsessed with SPF!)

Busting Skincare Myths With Paula Begoun - Nadine Baggot

About the brand…

·      The average Paula’s Choice customer is 25-45 years old

·      It is for anybody who wants to be the best version of themselves. Paula doesn’t believe in covering up imperfections but using targeted skincare to treat and protect the skin

·      As a brand, Paula’s Choice is confident yet always evolving, keeping up with new research and ingredients

·      Paula is all about breaking down beauty myths such as:

·      - You need to drink more water for dry skin
- Wrinkles only happen to “old people”
- You need to change your products regularly

·      Every single ingredient included in Paula’s Choice products have undergone extensive independent research and every single ingredient is there for a reason. If you go on her website, upon listing the ingredients it will tell you what each ingredient is there for. I believe they are also keeping this format on the SNK website too. Here is an example below of their Skin Balancing Cleanser:

INGREDIENTS:
Aqua, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (cleansing), Sodium Lauroamphoacetate (cleansing), Stearic Acid (texture-enhancing), Glycerin (hydration/skin-replenishing), Glycol Distearate (texture-enhancing), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil (non-fragrant oil/antioxidant), Acrylates Copolymer (texture-enhancing), Cetearyl Alcohol (texture-enhancing), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (hydration/skin-soothing), Sodium Chloride (stabilizer), Sodium Hydroxide (pH balancing), Xanthan Gum (texture-enhancing), Caprylyl Glycol (preservative), Hexylene Glycol (preservative), Disodium EDTA (stabilizer), Phenoxyethanol (preservative).

·      Paula’s Choice are realistic as a brand and don’t over promise or promise things they can’t deliver

·      There is no fragrance in any of their products, which makes it a safe go-to for anyone sensitive to fragrances. They believe that added fragrances and perfume have absolutely no benefit other than to make products smell nice

·      Their products contain a cocktail formula of antioxidants, skin replenishing ingredients and skin restoring ingredients to help skins overall health

·      They have never tested on animals, and have vowed that they never will

·      Their packaging is built for product potency. They have no jars or transparent packaging so there is no exposure to air or light. Anything in a pipette has an air lock system upon opening.

·      Paula’s Choice is environmentally conscious, use sustainable packaging and are always working to reduce their carbon footprint

·      Paula’s Choice pride themselves on being affordable and great value for money

About the product ranges…

Paula’s Choice advises all customers to have a Basic Routine made up of the following:

·      Step 1: Cleanse

·      Step 2: Renew (Exfoliate)

·      Step 3: Replenish (Moisturise) & Protect (SPF for daytime)

They then have what they call the Advanced routine which is as follows:

·      Step 1: Cleanse

·      Step 2: Tone

·      Step 3: Renew (Exfoliate)

·      Step 4: Treat

·      Step 5: Replenish (Moisturise) & Protect (SPF for daytime)

·      Paula is so big on SPF and believes it should be worn every single day, including in mid-winter and even if you are indoors as UVA can penetrate windows. As such, all of her daytime moisturisers (what she calls “Replenish & Protect” in her routines) have a built in SPF – great for those customers who want a moisturizer with SPF.

Paula’s Choice Hero Product:

·      The 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is the best selling product within the brand and what they are most well known for.

·      They recommend this as a great introductory product for anyone new to Paula’s Choice

·      Great for anyone who has breakouts, rough skin texture or redness

·      Goes deep in to pores and removes dirt and debris

·      Reveals healthier complexion

Results from Use: 

AHA & BHAs in Paula’s Choice

·      This is one of the things they are most well known for – their array of AHA & BHA Exfoliants. There are a total of 15 different exfoliants within the brand and can sometimes get confusing as to which one to pick!

·      4 are being sold at Space NK – Resist Pore Treatment 2% BHA, Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid (the Hero product mentioned previously), 8% AHA Lotion and Clear Regular Strength 2% BHA

·      AHA – these are for customers with normal to dry skin, rough and uneven texture, brown spots

·      BHA – these are for customers who ever have any breakouts at all, blackheads, enlarged pores, redness from breakouts, normal to oily

SKIN PERFECTING Range (BHAs are in the dark grey packaging, AHAs are in white packaging. Both have EXFOLIATE written down the side)

·      The Skin Perfecting Exfoliants are suitable for everyone

·      Gradually build up usage if a first time AHA or BHA user

·      Their BHA comes in 3 different textures - lotion, gel & liquid BHA but we just have the liquid BHA at SNK

·      Their AHA comes in a gel and lotion texture – we have the lotion at SNK

·      Always wear sunscreen after use

·      Can mix AHA & BHA within routine for advanced acid users who can also use them twice daily

Customer struggles with… Dull complexion, loss of firmness, advanced sun damage, pores, wrinkles – RESIST Range (Dark blue packaging is for normal to dry skin. Light blue packaging is for normal to oily)

·      Primary concerns are aging, especially the first signs of again (there is a more advanced line for tackling aging mentioned below)

·      The Skin Restoring SPF 50 moisturiser is great for dry skin

·      If a moisturizer within the line (ANY PC line) has no SPF, it means it’s the night moisturiser (for the customer that asks for a night cream)

·      The night moisturizer in the RESIST line is the Barrier Repair Moisturiser which has 0.01% retinol – great for first time Retinol users

·      Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum also has 0.01% Retinol as well as Vitamin C & E for brightness, kelp, liquorice and oat to aid hydration and has skin soothing effects. This comes in grey packaging as opposed to the blue featured across the rest of the RESIST line as this is suitable to every customer

·      Their Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum is great for oily skin types that still want hydration, tackle the first signs of aging and protection from free radicals for their skin during the daytime. It has Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate and Niacinamide to reduce and refine the appearance of enlarged pores. Layers well underneath the Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator with Niacinamide and Vitamin C

Customer struggles with… Acne, redness, sensitivity, blackheads, post blemish marks - CLEAR Range (Turquoise packaging – suitable for all skin types)

·      Salicylic acid runs throughout the whole line

·      This was the first line Paula created

·      The Clear Cleanser (or Pore-Normalizing Cleanser) is great for blemish prone skin. Is a foaming gel with no SLS and doesn’t dry out the skin.

·      The exfoliant in the range is the Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution – this is actually exactly the same as the BHA Liquid Exfoliant but comes in this coloured packaging for ease of use for customer who wishes to purchase from the CLEAR range or suffers with breakouts. Contains 2% Salicylic Acid

·      CLEAR range also features a daytime moisturizer with SPF 30, suitable for those who struggle to find a facial SPF that doesn’t clog their pores. Ultra-light formula and includes anti-oxidants

Customer struggles with… Extra dry skin, dull complexion, RESIST range is not doing enough, super anti-aging - CLINICAL Range (Purple packaging)

·      For the customer that wants a strong, results driven retinol/anti-aging product, the CLINICAL range features a1% clinical strength retinol, has a similar effect to a 0.02% prescription strength tretinoin. Also includes vitamin c, peptides, liquorice and oat extract. This is the best selling retinol treatment in Paula’s Choice. (Customer will see better results by using this as opposed to the Booster mentioned below as the booster is mixed and therefore diluted)

·      Night Moisturiser in the range features ceramides and vitamin c. Used in conjunction with the Retinol serum above, aging skin is replenished with the best possible ingredients to reveal smoother, firmer looking skin

·      Eye cream in the range (the only Paula’s Choice eye cream at SNK) contains retinol 0.01% and 5 ceramides. Thinner skin around the eye is firmer, radiant and healthier

  

BOOSTERS

Targeted treatments to add in to your routine for specific problems, for results the fastest way possible, attack concerns quickest possible way. Can customize your routine with a booster depending on what you need, created to be mixed with each other (as with all PC products), mix with treatment or moisturizer (but not SPF) apply after exfoliant, can use around eyes

·      Peptide Booster contains 8 different peptides, helps texture of skin, firmer and toned, good alternative for those who do not want to use to retinol but want similar effects

·      Niacinamide Booster features 10% niacinamide (this is a high percentage for a Niacinamide product), great for those that want anti-wrinkle, soothing, added elasticity. Also contains Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C and Ceramides

·      Hyaluronic Acid Booster has 2 different molecular weights as it absorbs better in to skin this way. Great for dehydrated or sensitive skin

·      C15 Booster contains 15% Vitamin C, feather light texture. Also has ferulic acid which is an ascorbic acid (Vit C) stabilizer. The pipette packaging has a plastic restrictor which stops air getting in. This is the only Paula’s Choice product that has 3 month shelf life. Also contains Vitamin E and Hyaluronic Acid.

·      Azelaic Acid Booster is great for those with brown spots/sun damage, acne scarring, helps to reduce breakouts, diminishes redness post breakouts, good for roseacea prone skin

BODY CARE

·      SNK is selling 2 of Paula’s Choice bodycare products

·      Weightless body treatment 2% BHA – great for those with breakouts across the back or any part of the body, Keratosis Polaris or bumpy skin

·      Retinol body treatment contains 0.1% retinol, firms and reduces uneven skintone, silky texture, use on targeted areas