Paula's Choice • Skin Balancing Moisture Gel • Moisturizers
(213 reviews)
| Average Rating. | 3.8 |
| Would buy this product again. | 65% |
| Package Quality | 3.7 |
| Price | 3.0 |
| Ingredients | |
Mom2Free on 5/1/2013 8:42:00 AM more reviews by Mom2Free
Age: 30-35 Skin: Acne-prone, Tan Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine Eyes: Brown
While Paula's Choice was having free shipping on everything, I ordered a bunch of samples of different products to try. So my review is based on a sample.
I didn't run the ingredients through cosdna before I purchased the sample or even before I put this on my face. That was my mistake. I saw it contained wheat germ oil; my skin generally does not like oils, but I patch tested it anyway. When I broke out on the patch of skin I applied this on, I tried another patch test on a different area of my face just to be sure. Yup. This breaks me out. I did eventually run the ingredients through cosdna, and wheat germ oil ranks a 5, so I am assuming that was the culprit.
The texture was oilier than I expected. I did like how quickly it sinked into my skin. And although broken out, the patches of skin I tested this on were moisturized.
If you're not acne-prone or clog-prone with normal to oily skin, I may recommend this. But if you are acne-prone, I would NOT recommend this at all.
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absdeinn on 3/20/2013 4:11:00 AM more reviews by absdeinn
Age: 44-55 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown
I’ve been using this for 2 weeks now and decided this is not for me. It is just too silicon-heavy for me and did not provide enough moisture. A couple of hours after application, my skin are so oily I have to blot it. Thought I just use it as an eye cream as the website suggested but it stinks my eyes and watery. Now I have to use it as a neck cream and hope to finish it.
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judibean on 11/10/2012 11:18:00 PM more reviews by judibean
Age: 36-43 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium Hair: Black Eyes: Brown
I tried a sample of this and won't be purchasing the full version. It is too silicone-heavy for me. Also, based on the way it spreads, it feels like I would need to use a lot to cover my entire face each time. I like that it sinks in, has no scent, and leaves the face matte and not tacky-feeling. It gets 3 stars for that, but again, I can't get past the fact that this is a thick silicone product and not a watery gel. The first ingredient is water, but it definitely doesn't feel like it! I did feel like it was moisturizing enough, but I have combination skin with a very oily T zone.
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xding78 on 9/28/2012 5:32:00 AM more reviews by xding78
Age: 30-35 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium Hair: Black Eyes: Black
I've been using this product for a few months right now. I use this moisturizer before I put on sun block or other emollient. It's fast-absorbing and its smooth texture + mattifying finish make this gel truly weightless. But I have to admit I use this gel more like a mattifying agent than a moisturizer. After one layer of this gel, the sun block doesn't appear as shiny as it was and the skin doesn't feel that dry.
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*TOP REVIEWER* mapn on 4/28/2012 9:00:00 AM more reviews by mapn
Age: 30-35 Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool Hair: Red, Straight, Coarse Eyes: Green
I’ve been using several samples of the Skin Balancing Moisture Gel, and I’ve been very pleased. Enough to consider purchasing the full size tube. While I’m not the biggest fan of the gel formula, which feels very silicone-heavy, it does absorb well leaving my skin feeling very comfortable. It also contains niacinamide, which my skin loves. Perfect for both night time and day time use (under SPF). My sensitive, acne-prone skin hasn’t showed any adverse reactions. For my eye area I need something more emollient (I’m using the PC Resist moisturizer for that, at the moment).
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*TOP REVIEWER* bebe7 on 4/27/2012 1:39:00 PM more reviews by bebe7
Age: 25-29 Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm Hair: Black, Straight, Coarse Eyes: Brown
I like this gel because it is very light weight. I have oily, clog prone skin. I only use this at night because it doesn't have any SPF. It sinks in very fast and dries quickly. I don't feel like I am wearing anything on my face. I have used it for several weeks and have not noticed any breakouts from this. The only reason I 'm giving it 4 lippies and not 5 is because I feel it doesn't moisturize as much I need. Even though i have oily skin, my skin also gets dehydrated easily. So I try to slather on the moisturizer at night. This gel is great, but I need something a little more moisturizing sometimes. I still like this a lot because of how lightweight and refreshing it feels. I will alternate between this and the Resist Anti again Clear Skin Hydrator.
Paula's products have never dissappointed me, and ever since using her 2% BhA liquid, I have converted the rest of my skincare to her products. I now use her serums, cleansers, and moisturizers as well.
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kloghopper on 4/25/2012 10:42:00 PM more reviews by kloghopper
Age: 30-35 Skin: Oily, Medium Hair: Brunette Eyes: Brown
I love this gel. It is a great way to moisturize my oily skin. It sinks into my skin easily and feels weightless. I have purchased this for many years.. During the day i use this with neutrogena ultra sheer spf 30 (I think it's the dry touch?) layered on top. And yes I wish it were a bit cheaper but I usually buy 3 bottles at a time so I get free shipping from her website. I'm quite happy to use this for years to come! HG fore sure!
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ShineeBee on 2/21/2012 5:39:00 PM more reviews by ShineeBee
Age: 19-24 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm Hair: Black, Straight, Fine Eyes: Brown
For a product that specially formulated for oily skin, it is not oil-free. Even so, it is still not moisturizing enough. I have combination skins with a very oily t-zone. However with only one application of this and my skin felt so dry. The cleanser I have been using is very gentle and never dries me out, even so this still does a horrible job. Worst then Cliniques. On top of that it clogs my pores making them a lot more visible then before. Will not purchase again, and really question this skincare line.
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lollelujah on 12/29/2011 1:53:00 AM more reviews by lollelujah
Age: 19-24 Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine Eyes: Black
*UPDATE* I spoke too soon! It's been about a month and i think this is causing me to break out. started on my forehead and now moving onto my nose and cheeks. it was good while it lasted :(
First off, I'm very oily, acne prone, sensitive, with some redness (lucky me!) I originally received a sample of this and fell in love! It is not very moisturizing as the name suggests. If you have dry skin, steer clear. However, it does one hell of a job calming redness/irritation and controlling oil. It goes on smoothly like a primer. It's not greasy or heavy at all. This stuff calms my skin almost instantly, which tends to get red/splotchy after washing. And the best part is... instead of becoming an oil slick 30 minutes after cleansing, I'm able to survive 3-4 hours before getting to that point when I use this gel!!! Even though I still have to use a 2nd moisturizer on my slightly dry cheeks, this stuff is worth every penny. I see some complaints about it breaking some people out but I didn't get that reaction with my skin.
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*TOP REVIEWER* lizzea on 11/15/2011 1:33:00 AM more reviews by lizzea
Age: 25-29 Skin: Acne-prone, Tan Hair: Black Eyes: Brown
My favourite moisturizer ever! Even acne prone skin like mine needs moisture and this is seriously soft and a beautiful texture. A little goes a long way too!
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erin1025 on 9/1/2011 10:51:00 PM more reviews by erin1025
Age: 25-29 Skin: Oily, Fair Hair: Red Eyes: Green
I love this for my combination, acne-prone skin. It makes my skin nice and soft without being greasy. I have never even used a moisturizer before because my skin is normally so oily, but this one actually makes my skin more matte while also making the drier patches around my nose and cheeks softer. My only complaint is that it comes in such a small package for the price.
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*TOP REVIEWER* lindsayloohoo on 8/12/2011 12:02:00 PM more reviews by lindsayloohoo
Age: 25-29 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine Eyes: Green
I am the target consumer for this product (normal, combo, oily) and I will never buy a full-sized version. I prefer the Resist moisturizers for light moisturization, which are packed with more good skin ingredients anyway. I tried a couple sample packets and really disliked this - it just didn't work for me.
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 tried this in the spring time at both day/night but found I had no real use for it. During the day I always use a moisturizer/sunscreen so this is superfluous (yeah, nice word choice, right? :). At night I use a lighter treatment moisturizer (Resist moisturizers - prefer the Clear Skin one), serum, and/or heavier moisturizer like Skin Recovery for treatment/prevention of dry patches. This just didn't leave my skin looking or feeling as great as these other products.
Results: The moisturization is so light that it didn't take care of dry spots or flakey patches. It also didn't leave my skin looking as soothed from inflammation/redness, or as clear and plumped as the other products I've mentioned. I felt like it left me shiny with a bit of a film on my skin. Also, I had a really bad breakout after using this stuff. It could have been coincidence since I was hormonal/starting a new job at the time - but it really scared me off of it. Also, unless my skin is dry, the 2% BHA gel can break me out, so perhaps it's the gel formulation that caused my skin to freak out. Honestly, I didn't like it enough to bother buying more product to figure out if this was the cause. It's just a possibility.
For the record, I also dislike the Hydralight moisturizer (same skintype target), and had similar results (possible breakouts included) minus the filmy feeling.
This is $18.95 for 2oz. I buy my PC products on sale (the website always rotates new ones) and in multiples. Also, check online for discount codes. I've doubled up my discounts that way.
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atlas84 on 5/1/2011 1:03:00 PM more reviews by atlas84
Age: 25-29 Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium Eyes: Other
I bought this to use as a night-time moisturizer to use in conjunction with Retin-A Micro to help alleviate the dryness and flakiness one gets from prescription retinoids. It does a great job! It is silicone based so it has a smooth finish (I have no issues with silicones) and contains a good amount of niacinamide and antioxidants. A moisturizer with a smooth, matte finish loaded with great ingredients is exactly what I was looking for and this product fits that bill. I will say I was a bit concerned at first since this product contains high amounts of wheat germ oil and seaweed extract, and those ingredients can be very comedogenic for some. So far I've experienced no negative side effects and my skin looks and feels better. Definitely a welcome addition to my skin care routine.
UPDATE: 7/31/11 I've been using this at night after applying Retin-A Micro and it still works very well. Every now and then I would get a clogged pore on my face where I don't usually get them and initially suspected this product to be the culprit. However, continued use has shown something else may have been the cause. Definitely keeping this moisturizer as part of my routine.
UPDATE 12/17/11: While I like the texture of this moisturizer very much, I'm sad to conclude it causes me to breakout. Each time I've used it I get small clogged pores on the most clog-prone areas of my face. When I use a different moisturizer with Retin-A Micro (or none at all), no clogs or breakouts occur. Reducing rating to 4 since I can't use it on my entire face. Going to use the rest of the tube I have under my eyes.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
*TOP REVIEWER* LizWords on 3/29/2011 9:35:00 PM more reviews by LizWords
Age: 25-29 Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium Hair: Blond Eyes: Brown
UPDATE: I'm bumping this up a lippy. Now that the humid weather is here I've been turning to this more and more and have to say I'm really liking it, it provides just enough moisture for me but is matte enough to keep me from sweating it off throughout the day. I ordered myself another tube last week. I still don't think this is very gel like, and again, if you don't like silicone in your facial moisturizers, then this isn't for you.
This is a decent product, I do actually like it and I think it actually deserves 4 lippies, but I only gave it 3 because I feel like it's marketed wrong. I don't consider this a gel, it's more like a paste, and it is extremely heavy in silicone. If you've ever tried a PC serum, this has a very similar texture and finish. The texture of her acne treatment and the mattifying antioxidant spf lotion is more of a gel, not this. That being said, it does a good job of giving adequate moisture for people with oily skin, once it absorbs fully (which takes a bit because of the silicone) it leaves a smooth, matte finish, and it has awesome ingredients. Again, I love the ingredients and will probably continue keeping it in my arsenal, but I prefer the hydralight moisturizer, it is way lower on the silicone, sinks right in, and gives your skin a tad more moisture. Also, the hydralight doesn't have niacinamide like the moisture gel does. Niacinmide is great, but it leaves me flushed for a while after I use it, so I prefer not to use it during my morning routine.
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*TOP REVIEWER* bebe_girl on 11/13/2010 12:06:00 AM more reviews by bebe_girl
Age: 25-29 Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium Eyes: Brown
a very good daily moisturizer for normal to oily skin. it's light and absorbs very easily. hence, no greasiness at all. perfect underneath makeup. unfortunately, not moisturizing enough for the drier areas of my skin. will look for a more emollient moisturizer for that.
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emge27 on 10/9/2010 5:14:00 AM more reviews by emge27
Age: 25-29 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium Hair: Other Eyes: Other
This is a solid moisturizer. It didn't break me out or make my skin worse, but it didn't really improve it much either. It moisturies quite well and has a pleasant, silky silicony texture that absorbs easily. So while it works quite well, it isn't exactly a spectacular product.
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justcallmed on 9/19/2010 12:36:00 PM more reviews by justcallmed
Age: 25-29 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine Eyes: Blue
For someone with oily skin like me, I love that it leaves me feeling very balanced and not greasy after using it. I don't think it works well as a primer (don't know why but Paula's products have a habit of pilling) but it does work well with the CLEAR 5% Acne Treatment I pair it with. I like it as a very lightweight night moisturizer for both face and eye as well.
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*TOP REVIEWER* basmah on 8/8/2010 4:13:00 AM more reviews by basmah
Age: 19-24 Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool Hair: Brunette, Straight Eyes: Brown
I bought this moisturizer because I was going to Southeast Asia for several months and I knew that my skin would get a lot oilier in the hot and humid weather. I like this moisturizer when my skin is very oily, as it provides my skin with a little bit of moisture and a nice load of anti-oxidants. I wouldn't use this moisturizer at home, since my skin is usually quite dry, but during my travels, this was definitely a very useful moisturizer to have.
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*TOP REVIEWER* MackMimiMommy on 7/8/2010 7:38:00 PM more reviews by MackMimiMommy
Age: 30-35 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Warm Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine Eyes: Green
This is a thick gel moisturizer that comes in a small tube that sits upside down so that product is always ready to come out. I really wanted to like the product, but I've ended up using it as a body lotion. I love that it is packed with antioxidants and that it has a wonderful texture. It absorbs well. However, I have been using the Clear products from PC and they dry out my skin. I need a more potent moisturizer, especially near the eyes. The RESIST moisturizer does more for this problem than the SBMG. I did not and do not plan returning the item as I do like it a lot, but I never seem to be able to put it into my regime! If you have oily skin with dry areas, this is an excellent choice.
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littlesarah on 6/10/2010 12:56:00 AM more reviews by littlesarah
Age: 25-29 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium Hair: Brown Eyes: Other
Horrible...
Tried this on two different days, 6 months apart, and the after both of those 2 random days, during different seasons... I got dermatitis. Paula, I would rather use the products that you give sad faces to. Your products are crap.