Paula's Choice • Skin Recovery Cleanser • Cleansers

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*TOP REVIEWER* JaneWhit99 on 4/28/2013 7:49:00 PM more reviews by JaneWhit99

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

In my opinion this is an average cleanser. It does well at not drying out my face too much but I don't like the fact that it doesn't foam up and lather into my skin. It is a smooth lotion that when washed off doesn't feel like it did a whole lot for me.

Don't disregard this product because I do have a few girlsfriends that LOVE it but it just wasn't one of my favorites :(

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*TOP REVIEWER* Walko on 4/26/2013 3:00:00 PM more reviews by Walko

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Other   Eyes: Brown    

I love this cleanser. I usually use cheaper drugstore cleansers(there are plenty good ones) but decided to try this. Unfortunately I'm hooked. I only use this mornings and my usual simple gel at night.It's a milky , creamy cleanser which is not drying at all. It dosen't foam at first but if you add a little extra water before you rinse it off it does foam up.No perfumes or artificial dyes.. I think perfuming the face be it in cleansers or moisturisers is madness.I read an article by a dermatologist recently saying that fragrance in skin care causes more allergic reactions than anything else, and I beleive it.That' s what I love about this no irritants. Will I repurchase. Definitely !!

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aessop on 4/16/2013 7:20:00 AM more reviews by aessop

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Nice gentle cleanser. I like the milky texture. Great for cleansing your face. Not sure about makeup removal. You'll probably need a separate product for that.

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dle14 on 4/13/2013 7:23:00 AM more reviews by dle14

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I've been using this product for many years. It about the only one that does not irate my sensitive skin. I have combo skin and rosacea. It is creamy/milky in consistency. If you are not use to that just try it for awhile and you will get use to it. This product also removes makeup fairly well.

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BitJustGingerly on 3/10/2013 8:21:00 PM more reviews by BitJustGingerly

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

So far I like this cleanser, I think it cleans well without drying. I think it's going to be pricey to keep using, and there are many great cleansers on the market cheaper than this. But I am dedicated to the skin recovery line and will probably use something less expensive for my p.m. makeup removal wash, and this cleanser for my a.m. wash.

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andreaboo on 2/14/2013 2:14:00 AM more reviews by andreaboo

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

OMG this cleanser is so bad.

I have been using this for a few days, it was a little drying at first so I decided to only use before bed. I noticed my skin started getting a little flaky but not a huge deal... but then it started really irritating my skin. My face turned red after use and it felt like i had a bad sunburn. My lips are still burning from using it last night. How is this possibly made for people with dry skin???

Thanks for the free chemical peel but I'd like my money back please.... and my skin.

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maquin22 on 1/31/2013 1:45:00 PM more reviews by maquin22

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

As other have noted, this is not the texture of a cream cleanser at all; it is somewhat milky, so the name is misleading. However it preforms like a cream cleanser in the sense that it is low lather and does not strip the skin of moisture.
It removes slight make up ok, but if wearing heavy eyemake up (even if not waterproof) or stubborn sunscreen I would recommend a make up remover or oil cleanser prior to this.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Endit on 1/28/2013 2:35:00 AM more reviews by Endit

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I previously tried Paula's Choice Moisture Boost Cleanser and hated it. It was slightly drying and had a texture that resisted foaming. I decided to still give this cleanser a try though to see how it was. I was thinking/hoping it would be way better.


PROS: It's drugstore cheap per ounce if you get it on sale. Also, soybean oil is ingredient 5, so you're getting an oil cleansing at the same time. My skin has been looking clearer since I've been using this, but I can't for certain say it was this cleanser, since I have changed many things recently.


CONS: Where do I begin? For one, the texture is just horrible! It's the same as the moisture boost, but worse. This is a thin, truly non foaming, MILKY cleanser. (UPDATE: apparently it does foam - if you use too much or use the perfect balance of water to cleanser - does with my scrubblet). "Cream" is as inaccurate as it gets. This texture is totally incompatible with my Skinsonic too. I really don't understand how some people can use this with the Clarisonic or any device. It does not stay in place. The runny texture makes it travel down to the base of the bristles and and stay there, not dispersed thoughout. It's like any cleanser at first, but when spreading it around and adding water to it, it is too thin (even when using hands). I know it isn't supposed to foam or anything (unlike the Moisture Boost cleanser, which merely resists foaming but can be made to anyways, this one truly doesn't), but there is no "density" or substance to this stuff. And this is most important becuase without it, the sonic vibrations can be harsh (like I am using literally no cleanser). I need a cleanser that is dense enough to be "protective/expand", yet stiff enough stay in place. This cleanser is neither of those things. In addition, it feels almost strangely coating. It doesn't rinse off easily or feel like it is rinsing off. And it doesn't even provide any moisture! Since I have started using this cleanser, the skin on my face has been absorbing products like never before. My skin feels dry, yet it's not making tons of oil or anything. I recently wrote a review on a Neutrogena sunscreen and while I liked it, it never dried on my skin. It just felt heavy. Sometimes I put on products and they sit on top of my skin or feel too emollient for a very long time. However, when I use this cleanser, that never happens. It's like the skin on my face mimics the skin on my body when I use this. Everything just fully dries down/absorbs, and quickly. A couple times I have moved my face (like my jaw or such) and it feels tight. How is this a cleanser for dry skin?


OTHER: Surprisingly it removes makeup. I didn't trust it to, but it did. Still, I would go over with a towel or napkin or something.


OVERALL: This is one of the worst cleansers I have ever used. It hasn't caused breakouts and it doesn't irritate my skin, so that's good, but it's just annoying to use. Too much working in and rinsing off required. I have a love-hate relationship with the absorbtion thing too - I love how everything absorbs so quickly, but but is this normal or harmful given how dry I can be when layering things after? I still want to try the Resist cleanser but that's not sold in bulk and is too expensive for cleanser IMO, so I guess I'm done at this point.

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yaiza123 on 11/24/2012 8:47:00 PM more reviews by yaiza123

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Black    

After trying a lot of PC products and not seeing much results in a lot of them I was about to give up hope. Thankfully I did not :) Recently I orded this cleanser since I was looking for a good cleanser for dry skin. I have dry acne prone skin, which is also quite flaky. So I was looking for something which wouldnt cause break outs and hopefully help a bit with the flakyness. Im so happy with this :) Its a very milky like texture and removes make-up very well. Its also very soft and gentle and I havent noticed any break outs since I used this. I've been using this for 2 weeks together with some samples I got from the resist toner and the AHA 8% exfolliant (BHA, only causes more break outs for me) and my skin has totally cleared up. Its no longer flaky and my break outs are now up to a minimum. I really recommend this cleanser for everybody with dry (acneprone) skin. The only thing I dislike is the smell, it smells really bad. The cleanser doesnt contain any perfume, so I have no idea what it is, but It aint nice. However who cares if it works this great anyway :P

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*TOP REVIEWER* heather on 10/9/2012 8:08:00 PM more reviews by heather

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

Though PC calls this a cream cleanser, it is milky, not what I would consider creamy. The texture is pretty thin, so if you want a true cream cleanser, I recommend getting samples of both this and the RESIST cleanser first for comparison. (Both the RESIST and Skin Balancing cleansers have a creamier texture than this.) Personally, I like milky cleansers. I do find this soothing and mild, and it takes off all my makeup in one to two passes. I occasionally get allergic hives on my chest, and this is a great cleanser for those days. It's also quite economical, especially in the large size.

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

Madwilso on 9/12/2012 1:22:00 PM more reviews by Madwilso

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

I have faithfully used this cleanser for 6-7 years. But I didn't used to be so consistent about washing my face, until this past year or so.
I have acne-prone skin, but I had a very dry t-zone for years, so I always considered my skin type as dry. It turns out, that I had seborrheic dermatitis, not dry skin.
This cleanser is just so mild a gentle, that it didn't irritate acne or clog pores. I've always just wanted a cleanser to just gently clean my skin and do nothing else. The texture is creamy, and it does rinse off, but it can take lots of rinsing. It leaves the skin feeling clean and lightly moisturized. I suppose some people might interpret that as a "film", but I abhor squeaky clean skin that screams for moisturizer, so I don't mind. It has nice slip and glides over the skin when used with the Clarisonic Mia. It does not foam, so please don't expect that from this wash.
I have been using Retin-A for the past 6 months, and in the summer, I decided to switch to Moisture Boost. Big mistake! It's not nearly as gentle and moisturizing.
I wear very light face make up, and I usually precleanse with avocado oil to break down my sunscreen.
Price is reasonable! I love to shop and I'm always looking at beauty products. Paula's Choice items are absolutely a value for the amount of product for price.
Since Paula's Choice had a sale, I purchased a bottle of the Resist Cleanser and I am currently using that one. I still have a bottle of Skin Recovery in the shower and use it. I like the Resist so far and will probably repurchase it, but I'll also continue to repurchase the SR cleanser because it's a good, basic and gentle face wash.

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

*TOP REVIEWER* kimk on 8/1/2012 2:29:00 PM more reviews by kimk

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I just bought 3 bottles of this b/c they had the old packaging on clearance. This is my HG of cleansers - I have normal/dry skin (DRY in the winter, plus I use RAM) and it doesn't sting, it doesn't dry my face out, it just cleanses gently but thoroughly. It has no scent, at least to my nose, and no color added. It's just nice, gentle, and effective. What else can you ask for? If they ever change this I will break down and cry - it just works. "Nuff said. :)

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

alohahawaii on 6/9/2012 12:10:00 AM more reviews by alohahawaii

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I finally had to give in.....my eczema and flakiness was driving me insane! I tried with foaming cleansers and my skin is just too dry. I purchased this and was eagerly awaiting this to arrive in the mail and when I tried it....I was pleasantly suprised! I put it on my Clarisonic and there was this really creamy lather. Te best of both worlds...Creamy and creamy lather! This is the first time I have washed my face and left the bathroom without a thought of applying moisturizer! My HG is Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Toner, but was so skeptical to try this cleanser. But this is my new HG Cleanser now. I never knew my face could feel this great! So far Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Line is my HG! I also use Paula's Choice Skin Recovery SPF 15 with Antioxidants as well. Please note that this review is based on my skin type (Dry, Sensitive, Eczema, Seborreic Dermatitis). Couldn't be happier.

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

jasminefire on 11/21/2011 12:53:00 PM more reviews by jasminefire

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Finally, an HG cleanser for my dry, sensitive skin. It's creamy and thorough--if it doesn't dissolve all the makeup the first time, use it again with no resulting irritation. It melts eye makeup as well. Highly recommended!

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*TOP REVIEWER* georgia21 on 8/22/2011 9:30:00 PM more reviews by georgia21

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This cleanser has a sticky feel to it and doesn't spread easily. I prefer a rinse-off lotion cleanser.

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*TOP REVIEWER* lindsayloohoo on 8/12/2011 11:41:00 AM more reviews by lindsayloohoo

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I had multiple samples of this product and didn't like it. This just didn't work for me. I wanted a creamy more moisturizing face wash for the morning that wouldn't strip my skin (or for the winter when my skin is dry), which is why I tried it (since I'm not the target skintype).


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: I used this in the mornings only with a microfibre cloth to gently exfoliate and remove any lingering film left by this product. It is not an effective makeup remover on its own (need a wash cloth, at the very least). I would never use this at night because I never really feel my face is clean if I do (even if I haven't worn makeup all day). I had sample packets of this, but I use other PC face wash with the pump you can buy separately (or the Resist one that comes with a pump) and I only need about half a pump to do my face and neck.


Results: I didn't like the consistency - which was milky and thick. I LOVE the Resist face wash (a thick, rich, cream) which is exactly what I was looking for. Neither of those lather, and I liked that for my morning/dry skin use. I wish this did what the Resist face wash does (this one comes in economy size, and is cheaper in general). I found this left too much of a film on my face (that I had to scrub off with a microfibre cloth), and it was just ineffective. It left my skin looking a bit dull and I think it would eventually contribute to clogged pores.


For someone with rosacea, dry, sensitive skin - try this! For someone like me that's just looking to supplement their routine to treat specific circumstances, I'd stay away. This really is best for those it's targeted to (dry, very dry). I'd even say for normal skin to stay away (most of the time I'm normal), unless you really do lean towards dry. I think the Resist cleanser really does have a one-up on this - that doesn't leave such a film but is still gentle and hydrating.


You can buy this for $15.95 for 8oz, or $23.95 for 16oz. I always wait for sales and buy my products in multiples, since the website always rotates a new one at least every month. I've also doubled up my discounts by looking for online coupon codes.

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

*TOP REVIEWER* loveoutdoors on 7/27/2011 8:04:00 PM more reviews by loveoutdoors

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

My skin and eyes became a huge problem so I decided to try this cleanser. I like it, it has a nice lite creamy consistency and cleans my skin without leaving it tight or dry. All the irritation and redness I had seems to be gone (yeah!) I use it am and pm with a cotton cloth and follow with witch hazel. It takes my powder foundation off easily, I can't say if it works on eye makeup as I haven't been able to wear any for sometime now. I will keep using until my eyes are well again, then I may switch to another cleanser but I would definately keep this on hand in case of another flare. Very nice gentle, effective cleanser at a very reasonable price.

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martha610 on 5/14/2011 3:12:00 PM more reviews by martha610

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

Skin recovery cleanser was my very first Paula's Choice purchase several years ago and now it's the only kind I use. Before that I was strictly a Cetaphil lady, but I find this actually cheaper than Cetaphil (which is similar, gentle and effective) if purchased during a free shipping time. I use the larger (16oz) size and that lasts about 3 months, so if I order a couple at a time, I'm set for quite a while.

This cleanser is perfect for my morning routine. At night I need to remove sunscreen and light makeup, so I use a washcloth very gently and then a second wash using my hands. If I've worn mascara, I use makeup remover.

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

princesssage on 3/21/2011 10:59:00 PM more reviews by princesssage

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I loved the feeling of this cleanser and how well it cleansed my face. I loved this cleanser right until my eyes started stinging. That alone means I'll never use it again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* haveaguinness on 10/27/2010 6:49:00 PM more reviews by haveaguinness

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

I have a sample of this (must be the new formula because I received it in October 2010) and I'm impressed and may order the FS. The first time I used it, i used too much and it was slightly drying (normal/combo skin). Using a quarter-sized amount cleans well and doesn't make my face feel dry. I love that it has no fragrance and is nonfoaming so it should work well with my Clarisonic. Will update if my opinion changes.

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