Paula's Choice • Skin Balancing Oil-Reducing Cleanser • Cleansers

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keepitreal on 4/23/2013 12:08:00 PM more reviews by keepitreal

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

This is a nice cleanser and it cleanses quite well without leaving a residue, but it dried out my combination skin like crazy. Flaky, tight - awful. To be fair, it did not break me out or irritate. Try a sample first.

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melodysg on 11/1/2012 1:42:00 AM more reviews by melodysg

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

One of the best cleanser I've ever tried. Great cleansing power yet still very gentle on my very sensitive combination skin. Can be used remove water-proof sunscreen and makeup by using twice. But I use cetaphil + cottonpads to remove makeup/ss then use this to clean again. Should improve on the quality of the cap, always broke.

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*TOP REVIEWER* heather on 10/9/2012 8:19:00 PM more reviews by heather

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

This cleanser is creamier than I expected, even after using several samples. Not a bad thing--I like it, I just wasn't expecting it. This cleanses very well and I use it when my combination skin is oilier. Takes off all my makeup (including tubing mascara), rinses easily, and does not irritate at all. It produces a very slight lather. I do have two gripes, though. As Paula herself is quick to point out, cleansers can't reduce your skin's production of oil, and any good cleanser will remove the excess oils, so I think the marketing of this cleanser is a bit hypocritical. Also, I don't understand why PC bothered to make this pearlescent. From reading the reviews, I understand the pearlescence ingredient can separate and create a gritty texture. The pearlescence adds nothing useful to this cleanser, in my opinion, and just creates problems. Those two gripes aside, though, this is an effective, non-irritating, unfragranced, one-step cleanser. I love the new packaging; the flip-top is fantastic.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Arachne on 7/15/2012 11:52:00 AM more reviews by Arachne

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

After reading a few of Paula's books I decided to try her line. Boy, am I glad I did. I like this product. This cleanser leaves my skin super clean and it never feels tight or dry. My skin looks so much healthier. I love how it foams! It's gentle and I use it 2x a day. I use it with my hands or in the AM and my Clarisonic Mia in the PM. My skin feels smoother and the pores on my chin are less clogged. I believe it also calmed the redness I sometimes get when I'm stressed.

8/12/12 UPDATE: Still think the products are great, but I got bored. The fact that there is no fragrance doesn't make me feel like I am using a luxurious line. I gave to my husband and he loves!

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Issabel on 5/19/2012 5:33:00 AM more reviews by Issabel

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

In the last 2 years I have tried and checked ingredients for houndreds of face cleansers. I was avoiding Paula's products just because of shipping cost (14eur).
My skin is oily and very sensitive. Products that ingredients were safe and good for my tipe of skin made me dry patches or they made my skin more oily.
Finally I order this cleanser - no stripping of my skin, no dry patches, no increasing of redness....

I am so thankful to Paula, she is really trying to do a change on beauty market (I feel she's the only one). And I am so ungry to other companies! Especially to pharmacies companies (Avene, La Roche Posay..) - shame on them!!! From first look their face cleansers for sensitive skin are ok. But checking every ingredient....well, or they have extremly drying ingredient or dangerous ingredients or even parfum?!
And this is not only for face cleansers, all beauty market is messed up. Through my researches I can only believe that they want us ill, they want to make us more problems, so that we can come again and buy more things, so that we become ill and they profit from us...

And then they say: It's fault of smoking, bad food, stress, polution...But they don't say that is fault of bad cosmetics!
I hope Paula will continue with her extremely good job and I hope she will stay strong if they willl try to corrupt her. I wish to meet her and shake her hand (unfortunately I don't think this will happen).

It's time for us to wake up! Time to check what we are buying. Time to buy only good things, and leave "poisons in bottles" aside. It's time for companies to provide us safe things or to shut down the business. People, wake up and don't trust them. Check ingredients, especially products for babies and kids - from what I have seen I can only feel pity for mothers buying these poisons!

This face cleanser is great and I will keep ordering it for a long time.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Darlajane on 5/9/2012 4:54:00 PM more reviews by Darlajane

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I have been using this product and the toner for a couple of years now and I have to say that on my blemish prone relatively sensitive skin it has been brilliant. It doesn't irritate my skin like other products do and I don't get any spots at all if I use this. I haven't found anything as good as this for keeping spots at bay so I would definitely recommend it. The product does get gritty after a couple of weeks of being open but it doesn't seem to stop it working.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

momominky on 4/24/2012 7:04:00 PM more reviews by momominky

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

Holy grail. I love it; my skin loves it. It removes my makeup leaving my sensitive skin soft and healthy. I can ask for no more.

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ShineeBee on 4/14/2012 9:30:00 PM more reviews by ShineeBee

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I really wish I could like this. I was looking for a gentle cream cleanser that design for oily/combination skin. So reading the positive review I was really excited. Despite the price here where I live I still purchase it. However the result wasn't that great

Pros: it doesn't dries out your skin. It cleans quiet well

Cons: The product texture ISN'T CREAMY. It contains tiny grains in them. I contacted the company about this, they said that the ingredients in the product cause this. They are still working to FIX it.

If I have normal skin or skin that isn't prone to acne, then this would be a nice gentle exfoliating cleanser, however I always get pimples and you shouldn't scrub over them. Therefore, if they should fix that issues then i might repurchase, but at the current moment I will look for another alternative.

Overall the cleanser didn't do bad, but there wasn't much of an improvement for me to overlook that issue.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

kjmakeupaddict on 3/23/2012 11:06:00 AM more reviews by kjmakeupaddict

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

This cleanser is the best I have ever tried and I'm a complete skin care junkie, so I tried basically everything from the drugstore and high end store before trying out this.
A little history: I am 16 years old now and have started with skin care way too early when my skin was still perfect but I thought it was cool to scrub your face with some fancy looking scrub from the drugstore with mainly alcohol, menthol and fragrance in it (but I didn't know it was bad at all - I was 12!). However, I kept using those products (Clerasil) every morning and night (Cleanser, Scrub, Toner, Pads, Treatment!!) until I was 13 and then I got interested in higher end skin care and bought all kinds of stuff claiming to reduce pores and acne (as you can imagine, my skin by then was irritated, sensitive and my pores have gotten bigger due to all the irritation), as well as other drugstore and so called "natural products". This continued until I stumbled across Paula Begoun at 15. First I thought she was just trying to make money but I read one of her books and quickly noticed that she was giving great advice! I bought the entire Skin Balancing System (Cleanser, Toner, Moisturizer, Serum) and the Acne Relief Toner (Regular). I also use Tazorac gel 0.05 which I got from my derm.
Before my skin was: pretty sensitive, large pores, blackheads, some pimples
Now my skin is: 100% clear, even toned but a few enlarged pores (nose area) remain
AND IT HAS ONLY BEEN 3 MONTHS! WOW!!! This system is the bomb and I am so happy! All of my friends are so jealous of my skin and always want to know my secret and I keep telling them to stop using all that harsh stuff and try Paula's Choice!! If you want to have beautiful skin, try it out, you will not be sorry. And always wear sunscreen!!! I love it so much! The cleanser is a pearlescent foam that rinses away all of my make up (Revlon Photoready and MUFE HD Concealer, Neutrogena Blush) and DOES NOT MAKE MY SKIN TIGHT! This is a great plus because the Taz tends to dry out my combo skin a bit. The toner has awesome ingredients such as ceramides to soften and refresh skin and the exfoliant is so great to remove blackheads. The moisturizer is really light and refreshing but also makes your skin so smooth!

I'm sorry for this long text but please take your time to read it - I'm so happy :) <3

5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Anna001 on 2/15/2012 11:59:00 PM more reviews by Anna001

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I have been using this cleanser during summer and I really enjoy using it. I feel that it cleanses my face perfectly.

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aykhan on 1/28/2012 8:26:00 PM more reviews by aykhan

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I've been using this for a year, and my skin has never been happier or clearer. This cleanser is very gentle and not even remotely drying. Also, a little goes a long way, so one bottle lasts a long time. Since it doesn't smell girly, my husband is willing to use it too, which is much better for his skin than bar soap.

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aessop on 1/25/2012 6:39:00 AM more reviews by aessop

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This cleanser is just lovely, it feels like a lotion cleaner but gently foams. My face felt cleansed but not tight. After repeated use, I noticed that my pores looked smaller. I had no irritation so it's a pretty gentle product.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Safin on 11/27/2011 9:03:00 AM more reviews by Safin

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I have sensitve acne and dermatitis prone oily skin. Maybe this cleanser is fine when your skin is oily and younger, but for me (in my forties) it was much too drying. There is no SLES in it, but another sulfate, which has the same drying effect as SLES.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* lizzea on 11/15/2011 1:25:00 AM more reviews by lizzea

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

A seriously beautiful cleanser for my acne prone skin... been using it since 2007 and never looked back. Doubles as a great makeup remover too and comes in a huge bottle that lasts ages. Love, love, love!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

sellabella on 11/10/2011 8:39:00 PM more reviews by sellabella

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

Fantastic - removes all my make up (most of my eye makeup) and doesnt leave my skin dry at all.

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erin1025 on 10/25/2011 12:05:00 AM more reviews by erin1025

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

I love this - it's gentle enough for my sensitive skin but controls oil on my oily parts. I'm using the entire skin balancing line and it's totally cleared up my acne. So happy with it.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* LaceyH on 10/14/2011 11:02:00 AM more reviews by LaceyH

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

i'm not sure how i havent written a review for this before. i continue to be impressed with every Paula's Choice product i try!

my skin: nc15-ish, normal-leaning-combination, acne-prone, and have sun damage and acne pigmentatin i'd like to lighten.

my expectations: a cleanser that was not too harsh, but would thoroughly remove MU

and it fits the bill! i only wash my face with cleanser every 2 to 3 days, since i hardly ever wear MU, and use their BHA religiously. and this one is great! the price is a bit steep, like $25-ish, i think. but the bottle is HUGE. even if i used it every day, i imagine it would last me for at LEAST a year.

i have 2 small gripes with this, but neither were enough for me to knock off any lippies:
1) DH dropped the bottle in the shower and the flip top broke off. i feel like it should have been a little more durable.
2) i've had this for about a year already, and now there are tiny grainy particles in it. i shake the bottle a little before use each time, but it doesnt help. and as it doesnt seem to effect the effectiveness of the cleanser at all, it doesnt both me too much. just gets on my nerves a little is all.

after this runs out , i WILL rebuy! i just wish they had a smaller bottle as an option. 1-- b/c it would be cheaper, and 2-- so it wouldnt take me FOREVER to use it all up! :(

UPDATE 02/20/12:
the grainy little particles in this are gettin on my nerves. i'm going to see about contacting the company to see what they say. i'll update again after i find out whats up.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* LizWords on 9/25/2011 10:48:00 PM more reviews by LizWords

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

I use this with my neutra sonic occasionally, like a couple times a month. I always cleanse with my antibacterial cetaphil bar first, as this doesn't take off enough of my makeup for a first round cleanser. It's pretty gentle and moisturizing for a cleanser made for oily/combo skin, which is why I don't use it more often. Overall it's a decent cleanser, though I prefer my cetaphil bar and cerave foaming facewash for more frequent use, I probably will repurchase when I run out cause I like variety.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

CobraRose on 8/28/2011 5:56:00 PM more reviews by CobraRose

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

Excellent cleanser for oily skin. I had been using Paula's Hydralight cleanser, but tried this because it seemed more suitable for the oiliest skin. It does lather more than the Hydralight, but still rinses easily. The Skin Balancing cleanser contains no added fragrance, but does have a slight smell of its own. I actually like the smell, but if you don't, I recommend the Hydralight, which is completely odorless.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Catttt on 8/23/2011 12:19:00 PM more reviews by Catttt

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I bought the 0.15 oz sample for 50 cents. The first time I tried this, it left my face red so I put it aside for a couple of weeks. I went back to it a few days ago and this time it didn't make me red and I quite liked it. I'm not sure what the difference was but I would sample it again. I preferred this to the Hydralight cleanser which is fine for no makeup cleansing only.

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