Paula's Choice • RESIST Clearly Remarkable Skin Lightening Gel • Treatments

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Jake54 on 6/12/2013 11:34:00 AM more reviews by Jake54

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Great product. I've been using Paula's BHA gel for years and never purchased her skin lighteners. I have had dark spots from old acne for years and some acne that would just not go away (they were slightly under the skin). This cleared them up! I bought this when she had the tubes on sale, but I'd like to say the tube is really much bigger than I expected and I only use a small amount each night and morning. It has lightened up all the spots I had and the BHA has done a great job healing and disinfecting my skin. Highly recommend.

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historian12 on 1/27/2013 3:08:00 PM more reviews by historian12

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Blue    

This product just didn't work for me. My red marks just didn't fade, even after going through an entire tube of it. It also didn't seem to exfoliate that well--I was still breaking out on my chin. I was disappointed, because I've liked a lot of Paula's products and the price was very reasonable. I've had much better success with MUAC Skin Bleaching Gel, but it's much more expensive.

The packaging is also very bad. The product is extremely thin and runny. Luckily I followed the advice I had seen posted in some of the reviews on Paula's site. The reviewers suggested leaving the seal on the tube and just poking a small hole in it with a needle--this way you can actually control how much comes out. If you do use this product, I highly recommend following this procedure.

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maneater on 4/24/2012 5:58:00 AM more reviews by maneater

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

Disappointed with this product, I had high hopes for this ! Did nothing for my skin at all. Even after following the paula's choice regime for 2 months !

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*TOP REVIEWER* LizWords on 11/5/2011 4:01:00 PM more reviews by LizWords

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

I was using the alpha hydroxy version of this for a couple months when I switched to this bha version. I'm also using retin-a and I'm transitioning to a higher concentration and the aha version was just making me way too peely, I needed a milder exfoliater, and my skin has been primed for bha anyway (I feel this is important, as when i started using 1% bha i had to go slow or would experience irritation and/or a small increase in breakouts til my skin was used to it).


I think this works great, it was exactly what I wanted. I do have a few gripes about the formula in terms of consistency and how it looks on my skin. This is a gel and it's somewhat thin so it does run out of bottle too easy, it really should be in a pump bottle. Also, I wish it was a lotion formula like the aha version as I could wear that under my makeup during the day and use my retin-a at night, the bha version is not as good at blending into my skin. But I do still use it during the day a couple times a week when I don't have any client appointments or on the weekend.


In terms of ingredients this product is great, it has antioxidants, anti-irritants, and the hydroquinone and exfoliater that you're looking for. Hydroquinone is clinically proven to help lighten skin for MANY people, not all people. If you don't get the results you're looking for, you can try the 4% solution, All Day Chemist offers it very cheap and you don't have to go to a doctor for an expensive prescription if you order from there.


One other thing to note, DO NOT USE THIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH BENZOYL PEROXIDE PRODUCTS. Using hydroquinone with BP can cause skin browning, which is temporary but still unsightly. I honestly don't understand why there aren't warnings on ALL hydroquinone products, it's extremely irresponsible not to let people know, ESPECIALLY with this product as it's meant for acne prone skin and many people with acne prone skin use some form of BP. I do still use BP, I just make sure not to put it on my skin within a day of using hydroquinone. You can supposedly wash your face and then apply it but I honestly don't want to take the risk. Since I only use this product a couple times a week and I use BP probably half a dozen times a month, it isn't really an issue for me. But for someone no a regular BP regimen, this could cause problems.

9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Mariam123 on 11/5/2011 2:46:00 PM more reviews by Mariam123

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Oily, Medium   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This product does work, but i hate how the gel never really absorbs into the skin. I would repurchase if it had a gel-cream texture like the Resist hydrator.

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*TOP REVIEWER* bobsy on 8/21/2011 9:17:00 PM more reviews by bobsy

Age: Unknown   Skin: Very Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

Broke me out incredibly badly after just a few days I had to stop using it. Not sure which ingredient was the culprit.

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*TOP REVIEWER* emmgill on 3/20/2011 6:27:00 PM more reviews by emmgill

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

I really really like this product. This seems to work better on my skin than the 2% BHA liquid for breakouts. This also has reduced some small/light freckles that I has around my eye. You can barely see them now. I use this most nights and then put a different treatment over the top- either 10% AHA or a moisturizer of some sort. I really really like this product. I still will try the PCA Pigment Gel with HQ after I finish this tube and compare the two.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Arenal on 11/15/2010 12:55:00 AM more reviews by Arenal

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

Did. Not. Work. And I used it religiously morning and evening for several months. It worked a bit on my hands, but was not worth the time or money.

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justcallmed on 9/19/2010 12:33:00 PM more reviews by justcallmed

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

My biggest complaint with this product is the packaging and how the product itself will run out and you end up using more than you wanted. However, if that's the biggest complaint I have then I'll stick with it and talk about the pros of it.

No, it's not an over night fix, but it's not claimed to be either. It does an amazing job of making my skin soft, smooth, and oil and slick free thanks to the BHA in it. I usually use it at night and have very slowly (after about using it for close to a month, maybe 2 or 3 times a week) started to notice my skin looking more even and some of the sun damage begin to fade. I still have dark spots from years of sun tanning and tanning bed abuse but this is slowly starting to even all of that out and provide my skin with its excellent array of antioxidants.

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*TOP REVIEWER* LaceyH on 9/1/2010 2:30:00 PM more reviews by LaceyH

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

so, i only got this product today and have used it just once, so this is an initial review that will be updated continuously.

price was a bit high (18.95 USD), compared to something i could get at a drugstore with 2% Hydroquinone and Salicylic acid.

smell: not bothersome at all
consistency: good! feels kind of thin goin on, so its easy to spread around, and dries quickly. doesnt leave my skin feelin sticky, unless i apply too much.

will update after a couple weeks, although i know usually a month or so is needed to see results.

UPDATE: after a total of 2 weeks, i can definitely see an inprovement in the lightening of my freckles. yay! also, no new acne now, so the Salicylic acid must be doin its job!

will update again in another couple weeks or so =)

UPDATE 11/5/11: wayyyyy late update, i know! i ended up using this for 2.5 months, and had seen great results! then i switched to PaulasChoice 2% BHA liquid, without the HQ. love that one as well! apparently my skin LOVES her BHA! my friend was interestedin trying it, so i gave her what was left of my tube, probably around 35-40% after the 2.5 months of using it twice daily. that was a while ago, and i loved this stuff so much that i just recently re-bought it :) this time theyve reformulated it, so we'll see how well it works. so far, so good. i notice that it's thicker, so it doesnt come rushing out of the tube as quickly as it did before-- which is a good thing! so far my skin's still loving it :)

UPDATE 2/20/12: still loving this, even with the reformulation. i find that since it's a bit thicker than the previous version, i end up using more, since it doesnt spread as easily. dont get me wrong though, this isnt difficult to spread at all! since this is the only BHA product i've come across that has HQ too, i'll continue to re-buy.

just a PSA: for anyone wanting a higher % of HQ, Nadinola has 3%-- and is only $5-ish at walmart. i've been using it for a wek so far and am loving it!

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

goofyfootbetty on 8/18/2010 10:47:00 AM more reviews by goofyfootbetty

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

BEWARE! if you use Benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid products.. this will STAIN your skin dark brown! GARBAGE nothing on the label to tell you of this interaction.

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Sharm07 on 1/28/2010 11:59:00 PM more reviews by Sharm07

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

This did absolutely NOTHING for me. I used it consistently for 3-4 months and found absolutely no difference. I am Indian with fair complexion but due to the constant sun exposure in Malaysia my face and hands looked a little bit more tanned than the rest of my body. Even with consistent application on my face there was NO change.

Was very disapointed as I have been a fan of Paula for long and have been buying a couple of reasonabley priced products (other brands) she suggest in Beautipedia.

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feliciakb on 1/26/2010 2:16:00 PM more reviews by feliciakb

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I used this gel for the maximum recommended time of 3 months and it absolutely did what it was supposed to. Plus, the BHA really cleared out my pores and I experienced NO breakouts. HOWEVER, only a month after I stopped using it, literally, ALL of my spots have returned!! I have no idea why the results were so temporary for me. I rarely go outdoors (especially in winter) and NEVER w/out a minimum of spf 30. I was absolutely ecstatic to see years-old spots fading after only a couple weeks of usage, and eventually disappear altogether. So I was that much more disappointed to see them return in such a short amount of time. :( Maybe it's just my skin and someone else would have more lasting results. For the price it's definitely worth trying. And I would purchase it again if I had an event coming up that I wanted to look my best for.

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

jacie07 on 1/22/2010 12:52:00 PM more reviews by jacie07

Age: Unknown   Skin: Oily   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I received 5 samples of this product ( and 5 of the lotion formula) in a recent order and used it on 3 old purple acne marks which I've been struggling with for months. The results have been, well, clearly remarkable! I apply this after my prescription trentinoin at night and before my sunscreen in the morning. I saw fading immediately and no longer need concealer on these marks even though I'm still using the samples! And I have tried everything! Even better, I used this on an existing pimple and it healed without leaving a scar- a miracle on my fair skin. I am using this also on some age spots along my jaw. it is slower, but they are fading. This product has an odd smell, but it dissipates quickly enough that it wouldn't stop me from using it. I will buy the full size product and keep using it for 3 months. I have read that hydroquinone loses its effectiveness after 3 months, so I will do my usual self-tanning this summer and start again with this product next fall.Ingredients :Active Ingredient: Hydroquinone 2% (melanin inhibitor). Other Ingredients: Water, Ethoxydiglycol (solvent), Butylene Glycol (slip agent/water-binding agent), Salicylic Acid (2%) (beta hydroxy acid/exfoliant), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (water-binding agent), Epilobium Angustifolium (Willow Herb) Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (anti-irritants), Phytic Acid (antioxidant), Tocophersolan (water-soluble vitamin E/antioxidant), Pentylene Glycol (solvent), Glycerin (water-binding agent), Superoxide Dismutase (antioxidant), Allantoin (anti-irritant), Hydroxyethylcellulose (gel-based thickener), Polyquaternium-10 (thickener), Sodium Hydroxide (pH adjuster), Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfite (stabilizers), Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol (all preservatives).

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

judibean on 5/2/2009 10:25:00 AM more reviews by judibean

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

I bought this to lighten some freckles on my face, but the packaging is awful and the smell is too much. The gel gushes out uncontrollably (they should put it into a squeeze tube) and whatever is lending to the smell makes me not want to put it on my face. I didn't keep it long enough to know whether it's effective.

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donna01010 on 4/30/2009 4:24:00 PM more reviews by donna01010

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

Great product. When I diligently use it my freckles/sun damage lightens and my face is smoother. If it cam in a pump it would be better. I dont like opening the tube and exposing it to air/light because this degrades the hydroquinone. I am very pleased with the results and the price. I will re-purchase.

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

RuKa on 3/12/2009 4:07:00 PM more reviews by RuKa

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

I bought this to help with my melasma (around the mouth and on my cheekbones). I've had it for so many years and although I haven't tried every product out there, the few I have tried were disasters. Nothing covers it, so it's been a complete embarrassment for me all these years. I've been using it now for a little over 3 weeks. At some point after the one week mark, some sun spots I had on my nose were completely gone! The melasma on my cheekbones is almost gone and around my mouth (the darkest on my face) is slowly fading.. I can hide it easier with makeup with only a little bit showing through now which is HUGE for me, you have no idea.. well, unless you have the same issue). I'm doubtful it will get rid of it completely, but we'll see.
Using it didn't start out so great for me. I had high hopes though so I promised myself I would stick it out no matter what. In the first week, I broke out in and around the areas I used it. Very itchy at times for me and my skin was a flakey mess.. but I have dry skin prone to flaking anyway, I just had a harder time keeping it moisturized enough. I know I should have discontinued use, but for me, it was a small price to pay if this product actually worked and the sun spots disappearing made me believe it would. Now I can use it without issue. I still get the occasional tiny breakout, but nothing a little polysporin (HG!!) won't fix. The itchies are gone and hopefully I'm moving on to more improvement with my melasma. As for the oxidizing issue.. I've been squeezing the air out of the tube before putting the cap back on.. so far no problems with that.
I will definitely be updating about this product when I'm done the time frame suggested.. good or bad, but so far (week 1 issues aside) it's worked much better than I thought it would


UPDATE: I used it a full 8 weeks I believe (I forgot to update at the time, so I'm not completely sure now) and it did everything I had hoped! No more dark spots, my skin was completely even.. a first for me. I have had to start using it again, since I'm terrible at remembering to use sunscreen and my dark spots came back. Once again, they're fading quickly. Totally in love with this product!

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* marthaquest on 7/14/2008 1:10:00 PM more reviews by marthaquest

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I wanted to love this as I have lots of respect for Paula, nevertheless it did nothing to lighten the age spots on my skin, even after using 2 bottles plus some AHA products. The bottles leak slightly, and the gel, which turns brownish, left a caramel-hued glow on my legs and arms, thus illuminating even further the dreaded spots, especially those on my shins.

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bellaby on 4/3/2008 12:14:00 AM more reviews by bellaby

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

This product took about three - four weeks (as stated), but did eliminate the light brown patches on my cheeks. Does not moisturize (nor did it promise to), and contains BHA (better for oily skin). I ordered this because Paula's Choice was out of stock on the Clearly Remarkable Skin Lotion - which contains glycolic acid, which exfoliates better for my normal/dry skin. This product oxidizes to a brownish colour (a possibility you are warned about), but that didn't reduce its effectiveness for me. I prefer the lotion version, so wouldn't buy the gel again unless it was the only option.

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

lisagary on 3/10/2008 1:20:00 PM more reviews by lisagary

Age: 44-55   Skin: Oily   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I'm one of those very oily-skinned people who battles acne on my upper chest and upper back, and I had long despaired of ever successfully treating it. I've tried harsh, alcohol laden acne treatments, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, all with little to no success. As I entered my mid-40s, I also noticed evidence of sun damage beginning to show up in that area just below your neck that's always exposed to the sun, especially if you wear v-necked tops. In addition to the acne, I had those little red bumps and small brown freckled/damaged areas that were really starting to look unattractive. So, the first thing I did was go to the dermatologist to confirm that nothing bad was happening to the skin itself like basal cell cancer. Once I got the all clear, I decided to try lightening the area with a hydroquinone product. Being a long time fan of Paula's products, I decided to give the Lightening Gel a try. After about 8 months of use, I have to tell you honestly I am completely amazed at what has taken place. Not only am I free of all the little red bumps and many of the freckled areas (some will probably never fade completely, but you can barely see them), I am also COMPLETELY free of any chest acne and have been every single day since about the second month of use (once a day, in the morning after my shower). I have no idea why this happened; could be the salicylic acid in the gel, though I've had no luck with BHA in the past. Maybe it's the combination of the hydroquinone, antioxidants and the BHA. Whatever it is, I will use this product for the rest of my life, because frankly, that skin on my upper chest didn't even look this good when I was a teenager. You know how they say a woman can have all sorts of procedures done to her face, but the backs of her hands will always give her away because so many women completely ignore their hands while lavishing tens of thousands of dollars on their faces? Well, I think the same thing applies to that "decollete" skin, and you know what I mean if you've seen some women of a certain age who are paying the price for many years of unprotected sun exposure. It looks leathery, crepey, lined, and just plain BAD. I'm an eternal skeptic about beauty products in general, which is why I'm such a Paula fan; she really gives it to you straight, and in general her products do exactly what she says they will. I honestly didn't hold out much hope for improvement of the decollete skin, and the results from this product have so far exceeded my expectations, I cannot even begin to adequately say so. Another awesome product from Paula, and if you have "that kind" of sun-damaged skin on your upper chest, this product is really worth a try. I'm even thinking of getting the lotion formula to use on my hands as a daily maintenance/preventive to protect against sun damage spots.

16 out of 16 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No