Best Paula’s Choice Products Worth Your Money 2023, Reviewed and Tested | Glamour

Paula‘s Choice is just about as legendary as it gets when it comes to beauty brands. Way before the transparency movement gained mainstream traction, the brand’s founder, Paula Begoun, earned the nickname the Cosmetics Cop for her work as an investigative journalist holding the industry accountable for its marketing myths. Today she still critiques the industry through Beautypedia.com, a hub on her website that reviews other brands’ products.

Begoun launched Paula’s Choice in 1995—when it was one of the first beauty brands ever sold online—and more than 25 years later, its cultlike following hasn’t died down. If anything, you can’t scroll for five minutes on Instagram or TikTok without seeing someone raving over its almost too-good-to-be-true before-and-afters, or singing the praises of Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid, a favorite of editors, derms, and bloggers alike for its ability to gently exfoliate but powerfully smooth skin over time.

“Using science-backed ingredients, Paula’s Choice offers treatments that are accessible and affordable,” Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at NYC’s MDCS Dermatology, says of why the brand is so beloved. “There is also transparency and an emphasis on education so you know what ingredients are in the product. Additionally, it is a brand containing a wide range of products to address different skin care concerns and different skin types. ”

It’s true: While you’ll find a long list of ingredients that Paula’s Choice skin care isn’t formulated with, nothing about its marketing is scaremongering or centered around dubious claims. Each product is tailored for specific skin types and concerns, and everything is cruelty-free, fragrance-free, and nonirritating—and all less than $60.

But even with this wealth of information, the brand can be somewhat intimidating since there are so many different formulations and collections to choose from. What does each of the eight lines (such as Resist, Clinical, and Defense) exactly mean? Which of its 17 sunscreens are best for you? We had Glamour staffers with a range of skin types and concerns put the line to the test. Read on for their honest Paula’s Choice reviews of the products that are absolutely worth your money.