This moisturizer allows me to use a stronger cleanser and exfoliant than I would otherwise without flaking. It does not have silicones, which cause me to break out. (Dimethicone is a frequent culprit -- I even have to avoid it in hair products.)
I'm 27 so I can't comment too much on any anti-aging benefits, but my skin looks great. Previously I was using Retin-A to combat my occasional breakouts but my skin could not adapt to it. Perhaps as I get older, I'll consider a stronger retinol but I'm thrilled with this for now.

Surprisingly light and hydrating on my oily, rosacea-addled skin. Definitely a HG moisturiser.

Too light, not enough moisture. Was disappointed as I thought this might be the one for me.

I bought this as part of a complete set of the RESIST line (cleanser, toner, serum, daily exfoliator, weekly exfoliator, moisturizer w sunscreen and moisturizer w/o sunscreen). I have used the products from this set approximately half a year and noticed great improvements in my skin tone, texture and radiance. This moisturizer is really lightweight. Those who are looking for something that feels very emollient on the skin might be disappointed. I really like the texture and the result. The packaging could be VASTLY improved. The pump broke when I started using the product. This was quickly replaced by customer service though. Another thing is that the packaging in comparison to the weight of the product is so much heavier it is difficult to know when you are about to run out especially since the packaging is not see through in order to protect the ingredients in the product.

I have combination skin with tendency to surface dryness and flaking; slightly sensitive. I used a sample of this product. Given the name, I expected a rich moisturiser, but the product is more like a cream-gel consistency. I wanted to like this, as it has a lot of good ingredients, but it simply was not hydrating enough for my skin and my face felt tight and uncomfortable. Possibly this could work for me in a warmer, or more humid climate but as it is, I would need to layer it with a very hydrating serum. Might try this again in the summer, but for now it's a fail unfortunately.

After less than a week I can honestly say my skin feels and looks great...I will buy nothing else from now on..I will incorporate my own natural skin care with hers and three cheers for young and smooth looking skin!!!!!

To be fair, I only tried a sample of this (I got about 4 uses out of it). This is one of the few PC products that I didn't like. I don't know why, but for me this just sat on top of my skin and made it feel sticky and look shiny. For me it was slightly irritating, but I use her Intensive Retinol Serum every night without any problems so I don't think it was the retinol that bothered me. It didn't feel very hydrating. Some people swear by this product so it just goes to show that even amid the world of very well formulated, high quality skincare there can be so much diversity in the way skin reacts. Anyhoo, from what I can tell, this is a lightweight moisturizer that seems to have some great ingredients and would probably work well layered beneath sunscreen for someone with oilyish skin. My skin is combination/dry with occasional breakouts and light sun damage, so I'm going to try the Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator and see how that goes.

I like to use this moisturizer during winter.

So, it's been over a month since I've been using this product, along with the complete Resist line. I really, really wanted to like it because of the all natural ingredients, but it's doing zilch too improve the appearance of my skin and to soften my wrinkles. In fact, I think my skin looks worse since I've been using these products. I am really disappointed. Along with the Resist line, I paid for and received samples of two different Paula's makeups and both were dry and hard to apply. I simply hated them.

I wish this was labeled as for oily skin or at least normal to oil then I wouldn't have bought it. It says for all skin type. I thought I could use it on warmer months or when I go to warm places. But this is way too dry for me. I brought it to Hawaii with me. Even with the humidity there, my skin was super dry. I guess this would be a good moisturizer for people with oilier skin but not for me.

I'm giving a review based on a free 1.77ml sample that I received. I don't know what to make of this moisturiser. I love my night creams to be rich and emollient without being overpowering, and this one just doesn't give that feeling. I have to agree that this looks more like a gel serum and it certainly feels like it when you apply it. I'm sensitive combination, increasingly leaning toward dryness as I'm getting older and after application my face looked okey but it felt slightly tight- like I had nothing on. It was quite strange actually. I can't vouch for how effective it is as I think it's difficult to judge when you've only used less than 2ml of a product. I'm giving this product 4 lippies because I experienced no irritation, it appears to be packed with excellent ingredients, and its fragrance-free. I think if there was no alternative, I would consider this product just to test the long term effects of using it. I just wish it was more hydrating though, as my face gets dry in winter. This product is fine as a light application for summer, or for people with oily skin. Their sample sizes should also really be bigger like 5-10ml or so.

This moisturizer should almost be labeled more of a treatment than moisturizer by Paula's Choice. I have normal-dry, rosacea-afflicted skin, and find it not rich enough as a moisturizer, as others have noted below. I'm also confused by the "barrier repair" claim, as it contains retinol. If your barrier is truly impaired, retinol would probably just irritate it further, not allowing your skin to repair itself. This is what has happened to me with this product.
So, why the 5? It's fragrance-free, reasonably priced, and does indeed soothe the fine lines I'm beginning to see. It also provides slight moisture at night, and gives my skin an overall more glowing, less red, healthier appearance. I've also experienced no irritation from this provided my skin isn't compromised. I layer this over the RESIST toner and after using the RESIST cleanser
If you are looking for straight moisture and/or barrier repair (ie very dry skin, skin red & raw from a cold, sunburn, etc) I would NOT recommend this.
I've had problems with the pump breaking at the end, not sure if others have. I've had problems with Paula's packaging in general, but this would not stop me from purchasing again. continued >>

I finally finished a bottle of this product and I just wasn't sold on it to repurchase again. I do like that this product is packed full of beneficial ingredients and appreciate the packaging to preserve the integrity them. My big compliant is I just didn't find it was moisturizing enough and I have combo skin. Even my oily t-zone felt overly dry and uncomfortable and I was always layering another moisturizer over top and it was starting to get on my nerves. I don't mind layering products and often will do that, but layering a moisturizer over top of a moisturizer defeats the purpose in my book.

I agree with some of the other reviewers that mentioned this seems more like a serum than a moisturizer. I do like it a lot, in fact, I like it better than PC's actual retinol serums because it sinks in easier and is in a nice pump bottle that doesn't let in any air. I don't know about it's ability to repair skin barrier, but it's stock full of good ingredients, has a nice feel on my skin, layers w/ other moisturizers well, and has never broken me out. I don't use it every day, just once or twice a week, so I won't have to repurchase very often.

I found this at the back of the shelf collecting dust, I must have bought it when it first came out. Why didn't I used it more often, firstly, for my dry skin, this is not moisturizing enough, day or night. Secondly & most irritating of all, this has Sodium Polyacrylate, a film forming agent that tricked the user to believe the skin is smoother & more "lifted"; unfortunately if any silicone product is used on top, eg. primer or foundation, it will "pill" off, unless I use a small amount of this moisturizer which, does not satisfy my dry skin.
The best example is like putting hair spray on the hair & then put on hair serum (silicone), one cancels out the other.
No buy. continued >>

The Paula's Choice Reverse barrier repair has some good features, I have sensitive skin yet I had absolutely no sensitivity to the retinol in this, I also really like the hygienic packaging that keep the product fresh and the fact it's unscented. I've tried a few generous samples of this. It's a little too light for me, if it were made a little richer for drier skin I'd buy the full size.

I love this moisturizer. It's got retinol in it so it helps with exfoliation but it's pretty mild - I don't notice any flaking from it. I would not recommend this for really dry skin - it is a pretty light moisturizer. It has that slippery silicone feel to it and at first feels a bit greasy but then absorbs fairly quickly. Does not cause me to break out or turn red (I have sensitive skin and rosacea). Overall, I really like this and highly recommend it.

To me this is just basically a rather expensive moisturizer. I've almost gone through a whole bottle and I don't really see any "barrier repair", whatever that is LOL. I still use it a few nights a week for just moisturizer because I want to use it up. Once it's gone I will just use PC Super Antioxidant Concentrate serum to moisturize at night. Would not repurchase.

This is more of a serum than a moisturizer. I put yes to repurchase because it's a decent product, but I won't run to buy it as soon as I use it up. I definitely will not buy this at regular price - I'll wait for a sale.

Background: I have normal/combo (slightly dry/slightly oily depending on season) acne-prone skin that has dramatically improved since I've been more diligent about potentially irritating ingredients (ie alcohol). I don't have sensitive skin in the conventional sense - my skin is very tolerant of products. However, I would breakout consistently using anything even just remotely not suggested for acne-prone skin. Before buying a product I refer to beautypedia.com, the cosmetic ingredient dictionary (on same site), and MUA! My acne used to be the painful bumps under the skin that would take weeks to surface. Since using Paula's Choice products I only get the occassional spot. My current skincare regimen is used in tandem with regular workouts. For me, this alleviated all hormonal breakouts (because working out balances your hormones, and sweating changes the PH of your skin - don't know if the PH part matters for acne though).

Usage: Since I usually use BHA/benzoyl peroxide, I only use this product when I do my once a week AHA/Retin-A treatments (this has retinol in it and that cancels out the efficacy of the benzoyl peroxide or vice versa). I only do these treatments at night, and I've never used this during the day (I never put retinol on my face during the day as a general rule). It is more of a light serum with less slip than the Resist Clear Hydrator. Actually, I mix a small amount of prescription Retin-A with this product and spread over skin. I do use a heavier moisturizer over top, especially if skin is dry. This moisturizer is more of a treatment for some extra skin-beneficial ingredients. I vary skin products because I figure it's like any food diet - healthy variety (ie different fruits, veggies, vitamins) is good. I also use this in conjunction with the Skin Recovery Antioxidant serum (which I use after this product).

This is a pump bottle with opaque packaging. The cap doesn't seem to easily remove, so that will be fun trying to get all the last bits out of the bottle. Also, it's difficult to tell when the bottle is finished unless you know by feel. Like another reviewer, I couldn't tell how much product was left by holding it up to the light. I actually like the opaque packaging (light deteriorates products like this), but wish there was a way to open the bottle more easily to avoid product waste.

Results: This sinks into the skin immediately, but is not very moisturizing. If you have really oily skin I would recommend this over PC Skin Balancing gel or Hydralight lotion. This contributes to skin clarity (ie improves redness, scars, etc.) and does give skin some oomph when used as a supplement to my regular routine. It does help prevent my skin from looking dull. I do like what it does for my skin, it's just not as cosmetically elegant (harder to spread, not particularly moisturizing, have to use another moisturizer over top if skin is noticeably dry) so I don't reach for it as often. My mom (50+ acne-prone, dry, sensitive skin) has the same gripes.

This is $22.95 for 1.7oz. I buy all my PC products in multiples and on sale. Watch the website because they always rotate sales. Look for online coupon codes too, because I've doubled up my discounts like that. Although some PC products I absolutely would buy regular priced if I unexpectedly ran out - I would not buy this unless on sale. Also I wouldn't cry or melt or anything if I went without this for a few weeks.

This retinol product is more of a serum than a moisturizer. It wasn't nearly moisturizing enough and it made my dry and sensitive skin itch slightly.