Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum review

Paula’s Choice, created by skincare guru Paula Begoun, is a favourite skincare brands of many women. Skincare experts love the no-nonsense attitude, the use of active ingredients whose efficacy is backed up by scientific studies and the attention to the packaging, which is designed to be not just appealing to the eye, but also to preserve the formula so that it won’t spoil over time.

Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum has an emollient texture that feels greasy and looks shiny for only a couple of minutes, before sinking into the skin. Loaded with antioxidants, retinol and anti-irritants, the serum can boost collagen production, help prevent and fight the signs of aging, reduce discolorations and treat acne breakouts. As a result, skin looks smoother, firmer and younger.

The Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum claims* to be an exclusive formula that uses a proprietary blend of super stabilized retinol, various skin-repairing ingredients, and potent antioxidants to make the complexion look smoother and wrinkle-free. The silky texture of the product and soothing effects makes the skin look younger and radiant. Unlike some other creams on the market that claim* to have astounding effects, the Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum from RESIST works. Believe it or not, the product is one of the few anti-aging miracles out there that deliver visible results. Furthermore, it claims* to have no colorants and no flagrance.

Marketed by Paula’s Choice, the Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum comes with several benefits other similar products don’t have. The repairing ingredients contained in the cream don’t cause any irritations and each of them is backed up by solid research. The amount of retinol contained by the serum was attentively calibrated by Paula in order to ensure maximum effectiveness without irritating the skin in any way.

Carefully managed and never exposed to detrimental factors such as oxygen and light, the retinol used by Paula is of the highest possible quality. The serum is placed in specially designed packages in order to stabilize the retinol and maintain its purity.

Pros

– loaded with retinol and antioxidants, it helps prevents and fight the signs of aging
– it makes skin look smoother, even-toned and firmer
– the packaging will preserve the formula and prevent the antioxidants from oxidation
– doesn’t irritate the skin and cause breakouts for most women

Cons

– leaves skin feeling greasy and shiny for a couple of minutes before it completely sinks in
– may be too emollient for those with oily skin
– if you’re new to retinol, don’t use it too often or it may irritate your skin
– Doesn’t contain more powerful ingredients like peptides etc. for long term skin collagen building

Ingredients:

Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol (silicone slip agents/suspending agents), Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate (skin-conditioning agent), Dicaprylyl Carbonate (emollient), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (skin-repairing ingredient), Phenyl Trimethicone (silicone slip agent), Squalane (emollient), Bisabolol (anti-irritant), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (stabilized vitamin C/antioxidant), Retinol (cell-communicating ingredient/antioxidant), Tocotrienols (vitamin E-based antioxidant), Tocopherol (vitamin E/antioxidant), Lecithin (cell-communicating ingredient), Laminaria Ochroleuca (Kelp) Extract (anti-irritant), Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil (anti-irritant), Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil (skin-repairing ingredient), Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate (licorice-derived anti-irritant), Hexylene Glycol (slip agent), Caprylyl Glycol (emollient), Ethylhexylglycerin (skin-conditioning agent), Phenoxyethanol (preservative).

Retinol, a form of Vitamin A, is one of the very few ingredients that’s proven to be effective, even in small concentrations, at treating the signs of aging. A 2007 study, conducted on 36 elderly people, found that a topical 0.4% retinol lotion applied up to 3 times a week for 24 weeks “improves fine wrinkles associated with natural aging“. In addition, retinol has antioxidant properties that help prevent further damage. Retinol can stimulate collagen production, which leads to firmer skin, and speed up cellular turnover, which helps treat discolorations. Like that weren’t enough, it is also an effective treatment for acne.

As wonderful as retinol is, your skin needs more than that to look its best. Using retinol, together with a bunch of antioxidants, such as Vitamins C and E, will give you much better results. The form of Vitamin C used in this serum is tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. Stable and oil-soluble, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, which can penetrate directly into the epidermis (the uppermost layer of skin) and dermis (the deepest layer of skin), stimulates collagen production. The serum also contains tocotrienols and tocopherol, both of which are forms of Vitamin E. Vitamin E helps protect the skin from sun damage, and prevent the signs of aging, including sun spots. When used together, Vitamins C and E enhance each other’s effectiveness, as well as the photoprotective properties of sunscreens. They work even better when used with retinol. A 2001 study has found that “vitamins A and E appear complementary in preventing UV-induced deleterious cutaneous and systemic effects”.

This serum is silicones-based. Silicones allow a product to spread more easily on the skin, temporarily fill in fine lines and wrinkles, make skin feel silky soft to the touch and create a protective barrier that binds water in. This protective barrier is, however, breatheble. That’s because their structure is made up of larger molecules with wider spaces between each molecule, allowing the active ingredients to penetrate the skin. Other ingredients, though, remain on the surface and can be trapped under this protective barrier. That’s why silicones, on their own, aren’t comedogenic, but can help cause breakouts when used with ingredients that are.

This article on JustoneCelina.com provides a comprehensive user review. Here’s the gist:-

First Impressions

My previous eye cream, mixed with the Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster did a good job at keeping the skin around my eyes hydrated, but my skin is always a little bit more dry as we transition into the cooler months in Alberta. If you live here, you know our winters are downright frigid — my hair and skin always rebel! So, I thought it was the perfect time to give this eye cream a try.

When I first squeezed a little bit of this cream out onto my finger, I was surprised at how thick it was. It’s almost balm-like in texture. I thought there was no way that it was going to work under makeup, so I opted to wear it at night only for the first week. It’s so emollient and moisturizing, I noticed that my undereye area was still very hydrated when I woke up — extra soft and supple to the touch. So, I decided to try it during the day, under my concealer and loose powder, but was skeptical. I was shocked that it wore so beautifully under makeup, too!

The Packaging

The Resist Anti-Aging Eye Cream comes in a 0.5 oz triple-lined poly foil packaging, to ensure the ingredients remain stable throughout the duration of its use.

Like all Paula’s Choice products, I appreciate the simple, fuss-free packaging. The cream is easy to squeeze out, and it’s great for travel.

The Product

The product itself is an extremely thick, balm-like cream — the formula is a rich and concentrated. It claims to reduces dryness, sun damage, discolouration, and loss of firmness around the eye area. It’s formulated with age-fighting antioxidants, peptides and skin-identical ingredients to reinforce the skins moisture barrier and smooth fine line and wrinkles. Like all Paula’s Choice products, it’s fragrance-free and non-irritating.

The reason why I love and trust Paula’s Choice products is because their claims about how product affects skin have to be backed up by published research — meaning they don’t make outrageous claims without research to back them up (like most cosmetic and skincare companies!). If you’re interested in learning more about the research behind this eye cream, check out the ‘Research’ tab on the product page. Or, do your own research by searching any ingredient on the product’s ingredients list on the Paula’s Choice Beautypedia database.

The Resist Anti-Aging Eye Cream does take awhile to soak into the skin, and remains a bit dewy throughout its wear time. It wears beautifully under makeup and on bare skin. Since I use a loose powder to set my undereye concealer, that mattifies the look of my undereye area during the day.

You need so little of this cream for both eyes — the amount I have shown below is the amount I use. What I like to do is squeeze a little bit of cream out onto the pad of my ring finger, then warm it up and spread it around with my other ring finger, dispersing it evenly on both fingers. Then, I gently pat the cream around my eye area. It spreads very easily once it’s warmed on the skin, so there’s no pulling or tugging at your eyes.

The Final Verdict

Overall, I really love this product, and have switched over from the Moisture Boost Hydrating Treatment Cream mixed with the Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster that I used around my eyes previously, to the Resist Anti-Aging Eye Cream, exclusively. It’s less fuss, and it makes my eye area feel more nourished, especially in these colder temperatures. I still use and love the Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster though — now I mix it into my nighttime moisturizer to help give my winter complexion some extra hydration.

I’d say if you’re looking for a really heavy duty eye cream, or live in a very dry or cold climate, give it a try! If your skin is extremely oily, or you have oily eyelids, I wouldn’t recommend this product.

1. My skin looked smoother, plumper, more even-toned and a tad firmer. Even the pores on my oily t-zone look just a tiny bit smaller. I can’t say that I’ve seen any significant reduction of the few fine lines I have, but then I’ve only been using the serum for a month.

Retinol works, but it works slowly. I’m confident that, with regular use, I will see further improvements. In addition, this serum didn’t irritate my skin at all (but then my skin can tolerate retinol pretty well) and it didn’t make me breakout either. However, those with oily skin may find it is too emollient for them. If you’re still interested in trying it, I’d recommend you get a sample to see how it works for you. Overall, I’m very impressed with this serum and I’d definitely buy another bottle when this one runs out.

2. I’m doing pretty well in the fine line and wrinkle department, but it never hurts to be extra preventative (I am 30 now!). Since I’ve been using the Resist Anti-Aging Eye Cream, the skin around my eyes definitely looks more supple and hydrated. I can notice a the biggest difference at the end of the day when I wash my makeup off — because my skin is more hydrated (and therefore has greater elasticity), product settles into fine lines less (which even the best products will do a little bit, if you’re been wearing them for 15+ hours!).

I’d say if you’re looking for a really heavy duty eye cream, or live in a very dry or cold climate, give it a try! If your skin is extremely oily, or you have oily eyelids, I wouldn’t recommend this product.

3. Although I was hesitant to purchase based upon reading some of the other reviews, I really wanted a cruelty free product and I am not unhappy! Although this cream is thick, I squeeze between my thumb and fore finger, and then gently pat in under my eye. It absorbs readily as I am applying my other facial moisturizer. It is VERY gentle, softens and decreased substantially my lines around my eyes!! This is a keeper in my book!!!

4. Pros: Non-irritating, Reduces Fine Lines/Wrinkles, Very Emollient, Soothes Skin, Works Effectively , Easy To Use

Cons: Doesn’t Decrease Swelling

Best Uses: Night Eye Cream, Dry Skin, Fine Lines/Wrinkles

About 10 years ago, I started to have trouble with edema and scaling skin around my eyes. Part of it was due to allergies, and part due to the fact that I was going through a divorce, and was crying a lot. At that time, I had a great eye cream made by Chanel that moisturized, didn’t burn, reduced the swelling, and allowed my skin to heal to eliminate scaling. Leave it to Chanel to discontinue the product. Ever since then I have been on a fruitless hunt to find a similar holy grail overnight eye cream.

I was skeptical about Resist Anti-Aging Eye Cream because I have been through such a long haul of failed attempts to find a good product. Finally, during an especially good sale, I pulled the trigger and bought a tube. Once I received it, I opened the container, said a little prayer and put some on. The Angels started singing Hallelujah as this lovely eye cream touched my skin and melted into my eye area. No stinging! Check!

Over the next few nights, I tried different quantities of product to see how much I would need to keep me moisturized all night. Turns out it is best to take two very small squirts (1/4 of a pea or less), one for upper eyelid area, and one for lower. For each squirt, I rub between the middle fingers of my two hands, and gently pat the product on each eye. The product warms and softens by rubbing the fingers together, and then easily settles into the skin upon application. Over night, my eye area stays well hydrated, with some to spare as I can still feel some vestiges of the cream in the morning. Moisturizing! Check!

There is no doubt that Resist Anti-Aging Eye Cream has an extremely thick consistency. I attribute that to the very high shea butter content. Shea butter is an awesome emollient plant butter that works much better at moisturizing my dry skin than petrolatum or mineral oil. Plus it is much less irritating to my sensitive skin. Because of its benefits, I am willing to work with the fact that the cream is a bit “hard” when at room temperature. I don’t see the consistency as a detriment, because it is very workable, and the product benefits are so desirable for me. Also, because it is thick, the cream really stays put and does its job in the area I need it. Due to the thick texture, it doesn’t work as well for me as a day time eye cream. However, after only a few days of use at night only, it has repaired my scaling skin and greatly reduced the overall dryness and crepiness, leaving my eye area skin plumper. Scaly skin healed! Check!

I only have ONE tiny nit. The cream doesn’t reduce the edema I get overnight due to my allergies. So, I wake in the morning with slightly puffy eyes. If this product were able to help control this problem (caffeine is what helps my eye area swelling), then Resist Anti-Aging Eye Cream would be the HG of all HGs for me. Regardless, it is still such an awesome find after my long journey of bad products, that I truly have nothing to complain about. Needless to say, Resist Anti-Aging Eye Cream is HIGHLY recommended!

5. This is a review of their RESIST super kit

After chatting with the nicest skin care consultant ever (felt like we were BFF’s when we were done!) she chose the Resist Super Kit for me after hearing I have DRY SKIN and my main concern being WRINKLES!! Luckily Paula’s Chocie sends you an info sheet with instructions on how to apply along with your products, plus these nifty little stickers you apply on them to remind you what goes on when!!!

Here’s short descriptions of what I have been applying on a daily basis :

1. Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser – love this lightweight creamy cleanser. I add it to my Clarisonic cleansing system of course and use it morning and night.

2. Resist Advanced Replenishing Toner – ok so I used to be a non-toner believer. Thought it was just an unnecessary step but after speaking with a local esthetician friend of mine who I trust, and asking her to give me the down low on toners, she said “BE a believer!!” When used right after cleansing with a cotton pad consistently (no rinsing it off)it helps to balance skins pH while ensuring a thorough cleanse. Sounds good to me!

3. Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA – I squirt a dime sized drop of this alpha hydroxy acid and apply it after my toner which is supposed to be a daily exfoliant (no yucky harsh beads though).
* Resist Weekly Resurfacing Treatment with 10% AHA – basically a more high powered version of my 3rd step that I only use once a week. *

4. Resist Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum – this is my favorite product of the bunch to apply because it feels so yummy and silky on my skin. It’s a concentrated Vitamin C serum and I swear it’s working magic.

5. Resist Cellular Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 25 – this is the last step for my daily routine and such a bonus with that high amount of SPF included which helps to keep away the dreaded age spots!!
* Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer With Retinol – only used at night time (bc Retinol can be sketchy and make your skin sensitive when used during the daylight hours) this is applied all over my face and neck.*

Yes yes I realize this sounds like a lot of steps and products to be doing every day, but I believe I’m doing my 37 year old skin a disservice by skipping all of these necessary steps to prevention. And honestly, after doing all of these steps for a week it becomes HABIT, a good one!! None of these products have any scent whatsoever and are cruelty free, just FYI.

6. I am delighted with these products and what they have done for my skin. Once I run out of my samples I will purchase the entire collection again, if not try other products on her website. I appreciate that the products are fragrance free, backed by published research, environmentally friendly and not tested on animals. The only thing I would change is the packaging. I do like my beauty products to be a little more decorative but I suppose their minimalistic appearance is a contributor of their low price.

1. The cream is too thick. If Paula could put a little something in the formula to make it a little creamier, I would like it better

2. Have been using this about a month, cannot see any difference

3. I often try out Paula’s Choice and have used the products of and on for years. I am a devoted Beautypedia fan, too. I tried the Resist line a few years back and had trouble with the packaging. The company was so nice and sent out brand new replacements right away. But I digress.

Paula’s Choice always is on the cutting edge of beauty technology while staying reasonable as to product claims. It always uses ingredients that are actually supported by empirical evidence of benefits. So I was excited to try the eye cream which is full of peptides and other known beneficial ingredients to the delicate eye area. One thing strange to me is that Paula is known for often saying there is no need for an extra eye cream – that eye creams themselves are a gimmick. I guess she has decided otherwise. Personally, I prefer different, more emollient eye cream than one I use on my face.

The cream is very slippery – you can feel the silicone which makes a great base under make up. It can be used in the morning or at night – which is also wonderful. My first mistake was using too much. You literally need a tiny, tiny dab for your entire eye area. If you use too much, it will pill when you apply makeup over it. It took me a week to figure that out but it does say that clearly on the directions for use. So that was my mistake!

It’s moisturizing and provides a nice base for under makeup. It has a slight light reflecting property to it that when you wear without make up sort of helps with dark circles. I haven’t noticed much of an effect on fine lines other than there being a lot more moisture and no crepey effect even after using a little powder. As long as you use very little product, there is no problem with pilling. If you are sensitive to silicons, this might not be the product for you. I did notice some sensitivity to my eyes themselves when I applied and went right to sleep. For some reason my eyes tear a lot then and the product gets into my eye. Whether thats from the cream or my eyes, I can’t say. It doesn’t stop me from using the product. I haven’t noticed any life-changing difference in my circles or lines, just more moisture.

4. I’m a Paula’s Choice devotee, but I am not impressed with this product. However, I must admit that I am not the target audience as I have never understood the need for eye creams – although I do occasionally get dry skin around my eyes, I see no need for eye creams. The only problem I have around my eyes are undereye circles, and no topical product will solve that (other than make up, I mean). Taking that into account, I do find this to be a rather nice eye cream. Yes, it is rather thick coming out of the tube (that’s due to the high Shea butter content, I believe). What one needs to do is get just a tiny bit (a pea size), warm it up between your fingers, and then it will be spreadable. The cream keeps eyes moisturized all day or night. I haven’t worn it with make up, but I expect it will make eye make up more likely to smear as any moisturizer around the eyes would. It contains lots of antioxitants and feels nice. At the end of the day, would I buy it again? No. I just don’t need it, it’s not a miracle product, it’s overpriced, and I don’t reach for it often. It’s nice for what it is, so if you want an eye cream, check it out. It’s nothing special, though.

5. I like the consistency very much, a thick cream is what it describes best. I prefer to use it at night since it will remain on your orbital bone for quite a while, despite patting it in for ‘ages’. As another reviewer wrote, this is one of the very few eyecreams that does not sting, itch or bother my eyes. So that’s a big (very big) plus for me. No teary eyes! Yay! I have been using it for two weeks now. So far so good, will update about upcoming miracles to happen?…. 😉
Update 10/6 (that is June 10th in my country B-)
Well, no miracles happened. In the end this eye-cream did not do the trick for me. Not moisturizing enough at all. Big disappointment. the only plus remains the non stinging effect. But if I don’t use this cream, my undereye area looks the same and does not sting either. Seems like a cheaper solution.

6. Paulas choice eye cream:
Their review boasts that the ‘glucosyl hespederin’ has skin repairing and melanin inhibiting properties. That is good but we don’t know how much percentage is needed for those to work. Still it is the 10th ingredient and fairly high up on the list. If you are concerned about discolorations it is high in vit c and has lower levels of ‘uva ursi’ which can help discoloration.

‘Paula’s Choice’ complains about eye creams often being small, expensive, and not having any sunscreen.Her product is 0.5 fl oz for $32.00 pretty expensive, and does not contain sunscreen either! The vitamin C, resveratrol, and Shea butter all have uv protecting properties but there is no active sunscreen. Yet, while this tube is small you don’t need a large amount , and could last you a long time.
The texture: This comes out of the tube in a solid cream, and is almost salve like.It needs to be rubbed briskly between the hands, or it has more of a potential to ‘pill’, but can be avoided by not squeezing out too much product. I found that the more product you try to blend with this the more likely it is to roll up.Once rubbed this feels like whipped butter. I found that the best way to apply this was by using a ‘patting’ motion by doing a tap dance around the eyes with your fingers.The base is very moisturizing, and those with dry skin will love it the best. The team has made it clear that this doesn’t need to be used on the eyes either. You can apply it anywhere.
To an extent ;this can brighten under eye darkness due to the copper in it , but the effect is temporary,and not everyone will notice it.
Be careful if you are wearing mascara, or any other eye makeup over this. Many people will have different experiences . However, since this is a really emollient moisturizer it has the potential to smudge with eye makeup. This can be avoided though by simply wearing it at night.

They do have a good formula though. Skin identical ingredients are high here on the list – superb for dry skin, and antioxidants vitamin C, resveratrol,beta glucan, and vitamin E. Other star ingredients are: troxerutin, allantoin, licorice root,extract, and sea whip to reduce irritation.

I like ‘Paula’s Choice’ and I understand why she wanted to make an eye cream. I’am just unsure about this one. I don’t think I personally will rebuy it.

This article on dailyconnoisseur gives the basic overview of the Paula’s RESIST skincare products

I’ve recently had the pleasure of sampling Paula’s Choice RESIST Anti-Aging Skincare line for review. Paula Begoun is the author of 18 books on skincare and makeup including the bestselling, Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me. She also started the website www.beautypedia.com which has comprehensive reviews of over 45,000 beauty products.

I was interested to try Paula’s Choice skincare, which I had previously heard a lot of good things about, because I figured that Paula would have a strong criterion for excellence after reviewing so many beauty products. And my assumption was correct- This is a line that has a serious amount of research backing it. It has been created based solely on what published research has said is effective for maximum impact skincare.

I was initially apprehensive to review an entire skincare line as I am prone to breakouts and have sensitive skin. I didn’t know what to expect from an anti-aging line in particular. Would the ingredients be too strong for my skin? Would I break out?

The results after having only used Paula’s Choice products for 30 days have been remarkable. I have not broken out and my skin feels clean, healthy and (dare I say?) younger…

Here is a rundown of what I have been using:

RESIST Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser

I use this cleansing lotion in conjunction with my Clarisonic to fully remove makeup and cleanse my skin. It is mild, gentle, creamy and fragrance free- perfect for everyday use- I use this morning and night.

RESIST Advanced Replenishing Toner Skin Remodeling Complex

This is step two in the skincare routine. This toner has a milky consistency and makes the skin feel smooth and silky. Just a few drops on a cotton square do the trick.

RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% Alpha Hydroxy Acid

This could be the product in the whole line that is responsible for the most change in my skin. I had always heard about the power of AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and now I know why. This acts as a gentle exfoliant to my skin and makes my skin feel clear while simultaneously protecting against breakouts. If I had to only buy one product in this line- this would be it!

RESIST Weekly Resurfacing Treatment with 10% Alpha Hydroxy Acid

This is a bit stronger and is meant to be alternated with the Daily Smoothing Treatment. I only use this once a week as it is 10% AHA instead of 5%… Even though this is strong it still does not irritate my very sensitive skin.

RESIST Barrier Repair Moisturizer

This is a lovely, light moisturizer that restores collagen to the skin. I like its fluid, light texture. This is a great moisturizer for evening.

RESIST Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum

This serum reduces inflammation and the visible effects of sun damage. It is also packed with antioxidants and acts as a booster to the moisturizer. I used this only at night because the texture is a bit greasy and would not go well under makeup.

Price

The price range for these products is competitive. The products range from $16.95 to $24.95, which is very affordable for my budget. I have been known to spend a lot more on other skincare lines. For example, the moisturizer sells for around $22, which is a lot more affordable than the $45 I usually spend on face creams. The serum is around $24 which is also a nice price considering serums usually run quite high. Also, you get a lot for your money because a little goes a long way. I could see these products lasting me three months…

http://cheapasf.blogspot.in/2015/09/serious-retinol-review-of-paulas-choice.html

My Paula’s Choice Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

Paula’s Choice Skincare Products Review